Posted 16th October 2019 | No Comments

16 October: news in brief

Northern leaders say Oakervee HS2 review is causing ‘significant damage’  

A REVIEW of HS2 managed by the Northern Powerhouse Independent Review has called for a new body for the region, to be known as HS2 North. Speculation that the forthcoming Oakervee Review could axe the line between the West Midlands and Leeds has prompted warnings by business leaders and politicians that cancellation of the Leeds spur would leave no workable alternatives for improving their economies. The Northern Powerhouse review panel has also warned that the Oakervee inquiry is resulting in ‘significant damage’ to trust in the government, although it accepts that the government has ‘a duty to ensure the best oversight and governance’. Midlands Connect director Maria Machancoses said: ‘This report makes a compelling case for the delivery of HS2 in its entirety, especially the eastern leg connecting the West Midlands, East Midlands and Leeds. It also highlights the need for much greater regional involvement in the planning and delivery of HS2. We strongly agree that the benefits of HS2 to the Midlands and the North have been grossly underestimated and cannot be properly quantified within the short scope of the Oakervee Review. The new, compelling evidence submitted from both regions must now be fully analysed before any decisions over HS2’s future are made.’