First HS2/EWR marshal hits Buckinghamshire streets
The aim is to minimise the impact of HS2 and EWR projects on communities in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Council has appointed their first HS2/EWR Marshal role so they can keep an extra pair of eyes on the projects as they are carried out.
HS2 and EWR works have been causing problems for communities in Buckinghamshire as they work on projects in the area.
Mark Rann took on the role at the end of July and is now acting as a go-between for the community and project workers like the contractors.
Rann stated: “This is going to be a really exciting and challenging job.”
“I will be having direct contact with HS2 Ltd, EWR Alliance and their appointed agents and contractors, with the aim of minimising impact on the highway network and inconvenience to the public.”
HS2/EWR works and the community
As a result of HS2/EWR works, there have been issues with traffic, noise and even the road surfaces which have affected residents.
There have also been cases where construction vehicles have strayed off the approved routes to use local roads. There has been damage to the highway, grass verges and a high level of dust caused from the construction which has caused difficulties for residents.
How will it help?
Councillor Pete Martin is happy to welcome Rann to the team and is hoping it will help fix some of the problems for the communities. He said: “I think Pete will negotiate both sides of the debate. He can talk to residents in a confident, assured way, and relay concerns directly to the contractors.”
Rann will also soon be joined by a second Marshal next month. Councillor Martin added: “We wanted these boots on the ground, so we’ve recruited one and we are about to put in place a second one in September.”
The initiative will also allow HS2 Ltd to communicate their plans more easily to the county. They are set for a busy couple of months as their new railhead is built at Calvert. They are expecting to save 8,300 tonnes of carbon, which will be the equivalent of taking 24,000 HGVs off the road.