THE Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, Cllr Daniel Cook has spoken to Tamworth Informed regarding his views on HS2.
Below you can see what Cllr Cook has to say on the introduction of high-speed rail to the Country.
“Recently, County Councillors at Staffordshire County Council passed a motion calling for HS2 to be paused. Firstly, it is not for me to question the democratic decisions of other Councils, this is entirely their right. However, I feel it only fair that the voice of Tamworth is heard and while I accept I do not speak for every resident of Tamworth, I do offer the position long held by Tamworth Borough Council.
“Secondly, let me state for full transparency that my wife works for HS2 Ltd. However, my beliefs around HS2 were formed and indeed documented within the Council long before our relationship and in fact long before her employment with HS2. The long-serving Economic Cabinet member in Tamworth had for a long time supported HS2 within West Midlands Economic partnerships.
“While I agree there should be political and public review and monitoring of the project, we should also be clear of the huge benefits that the project will bring to Tamworth and the Midlands economy long into the future.
“HS2 is happening, in fact, I believe it must happen, thus delivering the largest early works programme in UK modern history. Yes, there will be pain during construction as there is with any major infrastructure project. However, easy research will show there are now 9,000 jobs supported by HS2 and 2,000 businesses that have provided work. There are over 320 of the 2,000 expected apprentices are already employed. This is essential, certainly around providing a better future for our children as they leave education, what an opportunity! Do some research into the HS2 College that is coming to Birmingham; we need our kids in it.
“Businesses in our region are backing HS2. They see the once in a generation opportunities that will come. At peak construction, over 30,000 will be employed to design and build the railway, and so far around £10billion worth of contracts have been awarded. By the end of next year that will be around £20bilion. Most of these (98%) are contracts to UK based businesses, helping the UK economy and driving down unemployment further.
“The HS2 factor is also helping to attract new investment. Alongside large global companies such as HSBC, PWC, Deutsche Bank, HMRC and Jacobs Engineering expanding or making the Midlands their home, over 17,000 new companies registered in Birmingham in 2016, the most of any UK city outside of London. This has been achieved by the great work of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) of which Tamworth is a member with an equal say at the table to Birmingham City Council. The GBSLEP support HS2 fully as they see the growth this will bring to the Midlands economy.
“We have long known that 50% of workers in Tamworth work within Greater Birmingham, this is where Tamworth’s economy sits and HS2 offers so many training, skills and employment opportunities to our residents.
“The capacity released by HS2 can be used to transport more freight on the railways. I work in container transport and for many years have struggled to get extra space on freight trains from Southern ports to the Midlands as Network Rail continue to state there is no capacity left on the lines. 76 HGV’s could be taken off the road for every extra freight train using space freed by HS2. This will improve air quality, reduce congestion and support the fight against climate change.
“If you have tried to get a train to Birmingham or London from Tamworth station between 7am and 9am on a weekday, you will know you are lucky if sat on your luggage next to the toilet door. Tamworth needs more space on her trains, we need the capacity back – HS2 will provide this. It creates 330,000 extra train seats a year nationally
“We need to be making the case for HS2 in the Midlands. Recent criticism of HS2 by the House of Lords Economic Committee mentioned Northern Powerhouse Rail more than 50 times, but failed to mention Midlands’s projects like the East Midlands Hub, Midlands Rail Hub, Curzon Street and Midlands Connect once. Given the economic growth the West Midlands have given the UK over the last decade, does this seem fair?
“Finally, we all hear the outcry from Councillors all over the Midlands about mass house building in our areas. I am guilty on occasion as well. The standard cry is usually “but where is the infrastructure”?
“Well, part of it is here, it is called HS2. It is needed and much more or we risk leaving our children no room on trains or our motorways.”
