17.06.16
DfT to review HS2 plans for improving community engagement
The DfT has demanded to be shown HS2 Ltd’s plans for improving its communication with residents following increased concerns about how the high-speed rail project is engaging with local communities.
In its response to a Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) report which found significant failings in HS2’s handling of a complaint from six families, the government said that it would ensure HS2’s proposals were sufficiently robust to deal with issues identified by the committee and the independent Bynoe report.
DfT ministers and officials will also meet with Deborah Fazan, the HS2 residents’ commissioner.
The department quoted the PACAC resport, which said: “The depth and extent of criticism expressed in the vast majority of the evidence that we received highlights the need for a fundamental shift in how HS2 Ltd communicates and engages with the public.
“We have seen no evidence to suggest that this step change has taken place.”
It added that it rejected HS2’s argument that it was only being criticised for the pace at which it was implementing change, and promised it would “take its strategic oversight role seriously, and not uncritically accept HS2 Ltd’s proposals”.
In its response, HS2 Ltd said: “We fully accept there is room for improvement in terms of the way we work with local communities along the route and the way in which we deal with complaints when they arise.”
It added that it has already implemented recommendations following the Bynoe report, such as by allowing Fazan access to all complaints.
The organisation is also currently recruiting a director of community relations, who will report directly to chief executive Simon Kirby, and finalising a new community forum process, which will be implemented once all nine community engagement managers are appointed.
(Image c. Rui Vieira from PA Wire/ Press Association Images)
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