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Thread: Benefits of HS2 were exaggerated, secret report reveals

  1. #1
    Mari
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    Thumbs up Benefits of HS2 were exaggerated, secret report reveals

    The Sunday Telegraph has learned that even as they promoted the supposed benefits of the controversial high-speed line, civil servants were sitting on a secret 170-page report which revealed those benefits to be grossly exaggerated.


    One senior official at the DfT explicitly told colleagues that the research "could not be used" because it would spoil the case for HS2, according to Colin Allen, a local resident who has sought the document’s release under the Freedom of Information Act.


    “I was absolutely horrified that they were covering this up,” he said.


    The cornerstone of the new line's business case is a claim that the first phase, from London to Birmingham, will generate benefits worth £23 billion, more than the £17 billion cost of building it.


    The vast majority of the supposed benefits - £20.1 billion – come from claimed increases in productivity on the basis that quicker journeys will leave people with more time to work.


    The then transport secretary, Philip Hammond, said it would “reshape Britain’s economic geography” and “transform Britain’s competitiveness as profoundly as the coming of the railways in the 19th century.”


    The Prime Minister, David Cameron, claimed that the line would have a “transformative” effect on the economy.



    link to rest of story..
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...t-reveals.html



    Last edited by Mari; 13-06-2012 at 06:19 PM.

  2. #2
    Mari
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    Thumbs up

    I think this is very good news and of cause for rejoicing.
    To be honest it was never feasible from the start , given the state of the economy.
    Of course the government won't announce anything or at least not for a while, because it's egg-on-face embarrassment!

    Anyway, rejoice !

  3. #3
    Super Moderator Shizara's Avatar
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    This comes as no surprise.
    Cool

  4. #4
    Super Moderator Shizara's Avatar
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    We might have been a tad premature in our conclusion. Tonight's BBC news says that it is full steam ahead on the proposal..
    Cool

  5. #5
    Administrator Lex's Avatar
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    Even the government's admitted that the benefits weren't quite as big as initially claimed:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24721214

  6. #6
    rebbonk
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    I really can't see the need for this.

    Someone, somewhere, will make lots of money out of the tax payer should it go ahead...

  7. #7
    Administrator Lex's Avatar
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    Another excuse being thrown about is that sorting out the current north/south routes would ruin everyone's weekends for the next decade-and-a-half, even though it would be a third of the price, so HS2 will be a better option from that point of view too.

  8. #8
    Administrator Lex's Avatar
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    Ol' Tarzan throwing his tuppence worth's in:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24907735

  9. #9
    rebbonk
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lex View Post
    Ol' Tarzan throwing his tuppence worth's in:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24907735
    ...says project would 'rebalance' UK wealth
    - Silly old fart!

  10. #10
    Administrator Lex's Avatar
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  11. #11
    rebbonk
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    I really think it's a case of "follow the money" to understand what's going on here.

    Regardless of business case, economics, etc. this will go ahead because there is a lot of money to be made.

  12. #12
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    I've always thought this was a stupidly thought out (or not thought out) idea. I hope it doesn't happen. So many lovely rural areas of historic nature and industry will be affected.That's not forgetting the people who live there now.

  13. #13
    Margaret
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    Boris Johnson's father calls for 'popular uprising' against HS2

    Stanley Johnson rallies north London residents against high-speed line, which will come 10 metres from his £4m house.

    http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...r-uprising-hs2


    .

  14. #14
    Administrator Lex's Avatar
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    It's now claimed that 2 parks will be destroyed by HS2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-26724479

  15. #15
    rebbonk
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    Sadly Lex, those that stand to make money won't give two hoots about a couple of beauty spots. This is all about money and egos!

    HS2 is not needed and will never cover its costs!

  16. #16
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    I started another thread about the development of land at Ettington. I am sure Warwickshire's beauty is becoming more and more scarce as Mr C and his various family off shoots plough through with such proposals. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ive-homes.html

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