"White elephant" claims as HS2 insists support for high-speed rail is growing

A HIGH speed rail line which could cut through Mexborough and the Dearne Valley was branded a “white elephant” at a HS2 information event this week

But the rail company which wants to develop the line insisted that public opinion is turning in favour of the controversial route.

The information event was held on Tuesday at Mexborough Business Centre on College Road and attracted plenty of local people keen to find out the latest developments.

Stephen McFarlane, senior HS2 representative at the event, said: “I think the overall support for HS2 continues to improve. More and more people have seen the benefits it can deliver.

“The decision for the route through South Yorkshire was one of the most difficult decisions we made in HS2. I believe the option to follow the motorway corridor is the best one for the economy and the environment considerations.

“I think we in HS2 continue to focus in delivering the best results we can in terms of benefits.

“It’s a long process of engagement. We are going to be coming back over the years and we want people to come and talk to us.”

Mr McFarlane said that HS2 would continue to interact with people in the Dearne Valley, a process which he said had resulted in changes to the plans already.

He said: “Obviously, we need to understand the concerns that local people have. Every time we come here we can understand more.”

Mr McFarlane hit back at a recent national newspaper report which said that the HS2’s land acquisition budget was billions over target and criticism that civil contractors have been given more time to adapt designs to meet target costs.

He said: “That’s not something we recognise. 

“Our costs are based on industry best practice.

We are confident that we will build the line on budget.”

Mr McFarlane said that concerns over the number of construction compounds earmarked for the area were understandable but sites were not yet fixed, though he added: “We will need to have construction sites.”

He added that he expected HS2 to receive Royal Assent in 2022 and that it had still got “very strong cross-party support” in Parliament, despite South Yorkshire MPs standing against the project.

But no members of the public that the we spoke to at the information event was a supporter of the HS2 line, with many saying they were “resigned” to it going ahead.

A Mexborough man, who asked not to be named, hit out at the scheme as a “white elephant”.

He said his home is effected by the line and is in-between the Zone 2 and Zone 3 compensation categories.

The man said he was experiencing some delays over compensation as HS2 said he would not get an offer until 2022.

He said: “They have told me there is no progress until 2022 when it goes through Parliament.

“I want to sell my house now but people are going to come round and say there is going to be a line coming through here.

“Either I lose out now or wait for three years.”

He added: “People feel misled by what is happening.

It’s a waste of money. It could be spent in other places. They could put trams in cities.”

Wath resident Peter Olding said that the route maps on show at the event emphasised the rail line more than the settlements they were going through, which he thought was a deliberate ploy.

Mr Olding said: “It reflects the approach HS2 has with regard to local communities.

“If it goes ahead I don’t think there is any chance of it being changed because there is too much money involved.

“The only hope that local communities have got is if it does not go ahead.”

Howard Sandford, of Barnburgh, said the rail route would distrupt footpaths in counryside around where he lives which are popular with people, as well as disrupting traffic and potentially causing a danger near Marr where vehicles will have to turn left onto a busy highway to travel towards Hickleton.

Mr Sandford said: “If the HS2 line could have followed the M1 then it would have been alright.

“I am going to have ten years of disruption and seeing a place I like to walk ruined.”

Mr Sandford questioned the benefits of the high speed line for ordinary passengers, adding: “It’s fast trains for fat cats.”

But one woman, who asked not to be named and said she was impartial over the scheme, said: “I think people just don’t like change.”