HS2

Pro-HS2 groups unite to make their voices heard

High-profile public and private sector supporters of HS2 in the West Midlands have banded together to combat the growing influence of the anti-high-speed lobby.

Go-HS2 is a collaboration between businesses and business organisations including The NEC Group, Birmingham Airport, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Business Birmingham, the city’s inward investment agency and public bodies Birmingham City Council, Solihull Council and transport authority Centro.

They want to ensure the high-speed rail link project goes ahead, despite facing substantial opposition from homeowners and MPs in the counties between London and Birmingham, from pressure groups like the Taxpayers’ Alliance and some rail commentators, and with the cross-party consensus in danger of collapse as the Labour Party refuses to commit to the scheme.

The consortium spent months analysing research into the rail link’s impact on the economy and its ability to release badly-needed capacity on the existing rail network, especially on the congested West Coast Main Line (WCML).

Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, said: “Go-HS2 galvanises support for the project within the business and public sector and enables us to speak with one voice on what we believe is the biggest opportunity for wealth and job creation in a generation.

“HS2 can bring 22,000 new jobs to the West Midlands and boost its economy by £1.5 billion a year and it’s this potential for regeneration combined with its ability to meet future rail demand that makes the case.

“We all recognise the huge part HS2 can play in creating a successful and prosperous West Midlands and that’s why we are united in our determination to see this high speed rail route delivered.”

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport, added: “High-speed rail should be considered as a national project, as a network is built in coming years. The first element – from London to Birmingham – means that the West Midlands can be an early beneficiary, as the UK economy becomes more balanced and less London-centric”

Go-HS2 says alternative options to high-speed rail, such as longer and more frequent trains or expanding the existing line, have been examined and exhausted and cannot meet future demand.

Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “That the membership of this consortium is drawn from such a diverse group, straddling public and private sectors alike, really demonstrates how the region is speaking with one voice on this issue.”

Paul Thandi, CEO, The NEC Group, said: “The prospect of high-speed rail connecting us to London in under 40 minutes presents huge growth opportunities for our business, helping to attract events with truly national and international appeal, while boosting business tourism.

“The NEC site alone, which is also home to the LG Arena as well as the exhibition centre, attracts more than 3 million visitors each year – 70% of which are from outside the West Midlands, and 10% outside the UK.

Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce added: “High-speed will attract companies from the overheated south east of England to the West Midlands helping to create badly needed new jobs and increased prosperity.

Neil Rami, head of Business Birmingham, the city’s inward investment programme, operated by Marketing Birmingham, said: “International investors we speak with are underlining the importance for their business of operating in a country with a 21st century rail network, which for them means high-speed rail connections.

“We must ensure that it is not just the South East that can compete in the global market place. UK Plc deserves better.”

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