HS2: the latest

A group of residents in Long Eaton have begun compensation claims because their houses could be demolished to make way for the High Speed railway line between London and the Midlands.

The home owners only found out about the risk of demolition when a television news team knocked on the door to ask them for their reaction.

The 11 cottages that are affected were built by the Midlands Railway in 1863 to house workers at the Trent station.

That closed in the 1960s and now house local residents.

They sit on the current proposed HS2 extension from Birmingham to Leeds as it heads towards the planned East Midlands station at Toton.

Roger Lynn lives in one of the Trent Cottages and used to work on the railway lines. He and his wife Margaret have lived their the longest of all the homeowners. They're currently surrounded by six railway lines.

"We are not blighted by the trains at present; we have countryside at the front and back. I can demonstrate that by living there happily for 43 years," he said.

"These cottages are unique. Wherever we go from here we will not be able to find a place like it."

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Meetings will be held today in Stone and Whitmore in Staffordshire to discuss the proposed route for Phase Two of HS2.

Bill Cash, the MP for Stone constituency is hosting the meetings. He says:

“I will be taking every possible action to oppose these proposals in the light of public consultation."

Last week people had to queue outside the venue of a similar meeting in Swynnerton, Staffordshire.

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The Secretary of State also defended the choice of Toton for the site of a new HS2 station serving the East Midlands. He said it would serve the region well.

He was speaking at a conference of rail industry experts in Derby.

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I accept that pulling the entire route through the city centre would be too complex and challenging, but I am disappointed that there hasn’t been fuller consideration of a ‘spur’ into the city station. If a ‘spur’ were created then at least some of the high speed trains could start and finish in the heart of Nottingham. We need business and regeneration in the city centre itself – and this was recognised with the plans for Birmingham and Leeds city centres but not for Nottingham.

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Hundreds of villagers packed out a meeting hall today, to protest against the northern extension of HS2.

The high-speed rail service is scheduled to cut through picturesque countryside in Staffordshire, and local residents are demanding a rethink.

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An MP in Staffordshire held a meeting today, to answer any questions from local residents who may be concerned by the HS2 rail line, which cuts through Staffordshire.

Tory MP for Stone, Bill Cash, has spoken out against the northern extension of the high-speed rail link announced by the Government this week.

The public meeting was held at Swynnerton Cricket Club today.

The meeting proved so popular, a queue gather outside the meeting room.

The HS2 line is proposed to cut by the village of Swynnerton.

No stops are currently planned in Staffordshire.

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Around 250 people joined MP for Stone, Bill Cash, and anti-HS2 campaigner, Joe Rukin, to discuss concerned surrounding the High Speed rail line cutting through Staffordshire.

The gathering was held in Swynnerton, where the turnout was so prolific a queue to get in built up outside.

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The MP for Stone, Bill Cash, is today meeting residents in Swynnerton and Madeley to hear their concerns over the proposed HS2 Phase 2.

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