News from Westminster Labour

Westminster Labour councillors to hold public meeting about high speed rail link plans

Labour Councillors in Queen’s Park and Harrow Road Wards have organised a Public Meeting to discuss plans for the proposed High Speed Rail Link from London to Birmingham. The route of the proposed rail link will go under houses south of Kilburn Lane in Queen’s Park Ward and close to residents living in Harrow Road Ward.

The Public Meeting is on Thursday 28th April, at 7.00pm, at St Luke’s Church, Fernhead Road, W9 (corner with Kilburn Lane). A number of speakers have been invited, including Graham King from the Planning Department and Karen Buck MP.

According to Westminster Council’s Planning Officers, the proposed route of the tunnel passes under Queen’s Park Ward for a short distance parallel to and south of Kilburn Lane. The high speed rail line would be in a tunnel at a depth of approximately 30-35 metres at this point. The revised proposals include a tunnel ventilation shaft on the north side of Kilburn Lane between Claremont Road and Salusbury Road.

Councillors visited the HS2 exhibition at the car park by Queen’s Park Station on 26th March and were told:

* If the new rail link is approved construction work will not start until 2017 at the earliest;

* Before construction work starts all properties underneath the line of the tunnel will be inspected so that any impact of the work on individual properties can be fully assessed

If residents have any questions about the HS2 proposals please call 020 7944 4908 or contact HS2enquiries@hs2.gsi.gov.uk

Queen’s Park Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg said: “Many residents are concerned about the possible impact of the rail link on their houses, particularly during the construction stage. Some people have also asked why the new tunnels cannot be located under the existing main line to Euston, rather than under houses. While others question the huge cost and value of the proposed rail link at a time of public expenditure cuts. The Public Meeting will be an opportunity for all these issues to be discussed.”

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