According to a recent article in Farming UK, there is an immediate necessity to see the compulsory purchase system reformed following the first reading of the High Speed 2 Hybrid Bill.
Previously on this blog we have written about how this record breaking bill has just gone before parliament - and the number of changes it will bring to local businesses, homes and industries.
It is argued that the issue of compensation has been overlooked within this bill, and the compulsory purchase system will need further scrutiny should the decision to go ahead with HS2 be finalised.
The Country Land & Business Association are at the forefront of the calls to look at reform of the compulsory purchase system. The Chief Surveyor at the CLA, Andrew Shirley, put the point very succinctly:
“If no reform of the compulsory purchase system is undertaken now, compensation received by landowners will be inadequate, paid several years late without interest, and then taxed.”
In an article published on their site, they claim that people who do choose to stay in situ throughout the construction process of HS2 will suffer from dust, noise, traffic and disturbance for more than a decade of HS2 construction.
“The consultation does little to address this and we urge the Government to look again at delivering a fairer system.” claims CLA President Henry Robinson.
All documents relevant to the Hybrid Bill can be found on the HS2 website via the link below.
http://www.hs2.org.uk/hs2-phase-one-hybrid-bill/hybrid-bill
Photo: The Times