Stark reality of HS2 cutting through Staffordshire fields
It is the picture anti-HS2 campaigners in Staffordshire hope will never become a reality – this image shows how a high- speed train would look as it passes through the village of Great Haywood.
The artist's impression shows the proposed track cutting its way through acres of fields just north of the village. The A51 can be seen on the right of the image.
It comes as a six-month public consultation finally got under way into phase two of HS2.
Homeowners, businesses and organisations along the Birmingham to Manchester stretch of the proposed route have a chance to comment on the £42.6 billion scheme for the first time.
Rolfe Pearce, chairman of the Staffs Against HS2 campaign group, today welcomed the start of the consultation.
He said: "This is now a chance for those people who have been preparing for this for years to come forward and tell HS2 exactly what their thoughts are.
"It will be a long process and we have still got to be vigilant. We are more ready for this consultation compared to phase one.
"People will be armed with detailed questions and well focused. A lot of people had done a lot of research into this." Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin said he wanted as many people as possible to get involved and respond to the consultation, and the same point was reiterated by Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy.
Those living near the line can also now apply for their house to be bought by the Government if they can demonstrate 'exceptional' hardship and a pressing need to move house. Three public exhibitions will be held in Yarnfield, Armitage and Stafford in the autumn.
Phase one of HS2 would cut rail times between Birmingham and London to 49 minutes, HS2 Ltd says, while phase two forks north to terminals in Leeds and Manchester. Construction is set to start in 2016.
Phase one will pass through Whittington near Lichfield. Acres of woodland, golf clubs and homes are set to make way for the rail line. The project will cut through swathes of Staffordshire countryside in the second phase, including Great Haywood, Ingestre, Hopton and Marston.
The consultation into phase two closes on January 31 next year.
