Meeting documents

Report of the County Archaeologist

Members received the report of the County Archaeologist on High Speed Two (HS2).

Mr Kidd reported the following:

• The Government announced the intention to proceed with HS2 in January.
• A timetable has been published
• The Government aims to lay a Hybrid Bill before Parliament by the end of 2013 which is a tight timeframe
• This means there is less than one year to produce an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is a short timeframe for such a large project.
• Paragraph 6 of the report highlights the main changes for Buckinghamshire and the Historic Environment.
• Different consultants are being asked to carry out the assessments on different parts of the route and not more than one consultant can carry out more than 2 assessments. This raises concerns how the assessments will be merged, how will consistently be achieved and how can residents be assured that the breaking up of the assessment of the route does not disadvantage local areas.
• There is 573 listed buildings within 1km of the line
• 0.29km of the route passes through Hartwell Park
• The route cuts through Grims Ditch
• 64km of the route passes through known areas of archaeological interest
• 107km is in the Chilterns AONB (excluding bored tunnel)
• In Turweston the cutting is 100m wide and there is huge variation in the scheme
• The real impact is much wider and this has not been specified in any detail
• There is a proposed viaduct in a major ecological setting of important heritage assets where visual or noise aspects should be a consideration
• There will be a huge impact on the character of the Chilterns and members need to get involved
• AONB is not registered in cultural chapter
• The National Trust is interested in pushing for tunnelling in the area
• Members may feel that they have not been given enough information to feed into the scope. E.g. Landscape effect
• Is the consultation really meaningful – considering the timeframe?

A Member commented that he had looked at the proposed route along the Missendens and said that the tunnel and cutting with ventilation shafts will be a major construction in the area. He raised concern about construction camps which would be needed for workers.

Mr Kidd invited Members to comment on the issues raised in the HS2 EIA Scoping Consultation. He asked Members to look at the document – ‘Cultural Heritage’ which had been circulated to Members and consider the points in relation to the landscape and noise. He asked for Members to email him any comments.

Mr Kidd then advised that HS2 Ltd had set up Community Forums and described the structure. It was suggested that there could be an advice note aimed at Community Forums.

Members agreed to:

a)     Email comments on issues raised by the HS2 EIA scoping consultation to Mr Kidd

b)     Establish a working party to advise member organisations and local groups on the heritage implications of HS2, especially through preparation of an advice note and input to the local planning forum and community forums.

c)      Agreed that Hartwell registered historic park and Grim’s Ditch scheduled monument be put forward for addition to English Heritage’s ‘heritage at risk’ register.