HS2 is ‘out of control’: Andrea Leadsom
HS2 is “out of control” and its management is insensitive, according to business secretary Andrea Leadsom
Leadsom has entered a submission to the government’s review into the controversial project, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
Read more: HS2 would drive rail price increase and shut out smaller northern cities
She criticised HS2 Ltd for the way it treated homeowners in her constituency affected by the project.
The South Northamptonshire MP said she was forced to continually intervene on behalf of her constituents in the face of “insensitive” behaviour by HS2 Ltd.
She also lashed HS2 Ltd for a lack of transparency for not making its management structure publicly known.
“My constituents are firmly of the view that HS2 is neither viable nor warranted,” Leadsom’s submission read.
“They would urge you to recommend to the secretary of state that it is scrapped before more money is wasted on this out-of-control project.”
A review into HS2’s viability will report its findings to prime minister Boris Johnson and transport secretary Grant Shapps at the end of this month.
The project’s initial budget was £30bn, however the Department of Transport (DfT) has since revised that to £56bn.
A recent paper by the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) cited figures from civil engineer Michael Byng that claimed HS2’s costs had blown out to £107bn.
Read more: Transport secretary Grant Shapps: I do not know answer to HS2 cost question
A HS2 Ltd spokesperson said: “We have regular face to face meetings with residents, including an extensive programme of community events where we have met with almost 20,000 people so far this year.
“We will continue to work with communities to explain our proposals, better understand local concerns and look at how we can lessen the impacts of the project.”