The revised plans for a High Speed 2 line in Nottinghamshire has created "a lot of resentment" in one county borough. The comments come as discussions over how the new proposals will be delivered take place this month.
On November 18 last year the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) was published, revealing substantial changes to the proposed high-speed line for the Midlands and the North and, despite being one of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 2019 election manifesto promises, delivering the entire eastern leg in full was shelved.
This led to anger from numerous local leaders and politicians in the East Midlands and beyond, but Mr Johnson denied breaking his pledge and argued a new station at East Midlands Parkway, instead of a world-class hub at Toton, would be "much better". As such, the high-speed line will now stop at East Midlands Parkway, before trains continue directly into Nottingham and Derby on existing rail lines.
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Toton will still receive investment in a new station, however it will not now include a high speed hub. The old route, which would have continued north through Trowell from a hub at Toton Sidings, is however still safeguarded.
This means uncertainty still hangs over those whose homes were originally facing being bulldozed. Councillor Milan Radulovic, the leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, said many people remain resentful and added: "There is a board meeting taking place [in June]. The Government had shelved the plans and had not cancelled them and a lot of the houses are still blighted by the fact there is an unknown.
"It has created quite a lot of resentment. It is a massive issue for us here in Broxtowe, it hangs over everyone and it won't go away. I think it has been ditched for another government in the future because the route has been safeguarded."
According to the Department for Transport (DfT), a train from London to Nottingham will be 26 minutes quicker than the old plan and 35 minutes quicker than today, while Birmingham to Nottingham will be almost 30 minutes quicker. Previous plans did not release any new capacity on the Midland Main Line, the department adds, and work to electrify this route began over Christmas last year.
Plans for a new station at Toton are being investigated, but will be subject to private sector investment. The Government says it will continue to engage with local leaders as they develop and implement HS2 growth strategies.
A DfT spokesman added: "As part of our £96bn Integrated Rail Plan, we are working closely with HS2 and Network Rail to develop plans for HS2 East. HS2 East marks a major investment in our transport network and will boost transport in Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway by providing direct HS2 services.
"Connections from Nottingham to London and Birmingham will be around half an hour quicker than under previous plans, and we’re also exploring plans for a new station at Toton to boost local services.”
