High Peak Liberal Democrats

For most people the prospect of faster travel, reduced costs and benefits to the environment seems the way forward with the HS2 providing the answer. One only has to look at the projected job creation to be impressed with this monumental infrastructure project. There is though, according to those who may be blighted or have their homes and land compulsory purchased a human cost which in some cases no amount of compensation can ease.

Julia Cambridge, Parliamentary Campaigner for Chesterfield, met with a group of Staveley residents last week to find out what their concerns were and has now written to Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport and Liberal Democrat Norman Baker, Transport Secretary. Actions were called for, including making sure that the Exceptional Hardship Scheme and compulsory purchase compensation were robust, generous and quick.

Julia Cambridge also asked for special care to be given to the elderly who didn't have access to HS2 news websites and often couldn't get out to public meetings: 'I did make the point in my letter to the Secretary of State that more public information and help seemed to have been given when the country switched from analogue to digital - what the older residents need now is literature and advisors.'

'For me it wasn't important to just give a list of needs on behalf of the residents. What was highlighted to me when I met the group was that there is a very human cost to HS2 and I felt the legislators, MPs and Ministers should be acutely aware that the worry of not knowing, but living under a cloud of uncertainty, is distressing to people who live near the proposed site.'

If the HS2 goes ahead, based on the Phase Two plans that are being circulated, then the Staveley residents are faced with track and a depot sited very near their 'Home Park' estate. 'Some people have lived on the land for over twenty years and others are in their 80's. The cost of faster travel and reduced fares is of no consequence to them but their homes are priceless. I am determined to help people, particularly the elderly, through these uncertain times and provide any support, help and advice I can.'