Midlands business leaders throw their weight behind HS2

Amid rising concerns over spiralling costs and environmental damage, chiefs from Birmingham Airport, the NEC Group, Alstom and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce all make their case for the contentious £42.6 billion HS2 project.

Travelling time from London to Birmingham city centre would be cut to 49 minutes, while it would take just 38 minutes to get to Birmingham Airport and the LG Arena site. John Morris, director of public affairs at Birmingham Airport, said HS2 would put one third of the population, or more than 20 million people, within one hour of the check-in desks.

He said it would help the airport expand with the potential to create 243,000 jobs in the wider Midlands area.

"HS2 will provide something that we deserve as a nation, otherwise we face being left behind by the rest of Europe," he said.

"You can't look at it in isolation as just a train line. It is much more than that. It will connect great cities such as Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester and bring them closer together."

It is estimated HS2 could create 9,000 construction jobs in the Midlands, 1,400 operation and maintenance roles to build and run the line, and a further 30,000 new jobs created by regeneration.

Colin Leighfield is director at B E Wedge Holdings Ltd, which owns the Willenhall-based Wedge Group Galvanizing. He is also chairman of the transport group on the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.

He says he is backing HS2 but is calling for assurances that contracts for the work will be given to British-based companies.

Jonathan Smith, from Stafford-based Alstom, said while he welcomed HS2, it was not 'the be all and end all'.

"What we need to see is regional train networks, trams and other public transport join up with HS2 and provide a complete door-to-door service," he said.