HS2 is set to come to Toton Sidings with the support of Anna Soubry MP  and Broxtowe Borough and County Councillors  of all three political parties.

"We often have our differences, but on this Conservatives stand shoulder to shoulder with Labour and the Lib Dems in Broxtowe and the City and County Councils in supporting the HS2 East Mids hub being sited at Toton Sidings. I know that some residents in Broxtowe will lose all or part of their home or property and others do not welcome the HS2 line, notably in Strelley Village. I represent all views and brought the Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin to Strelley Hall to meet constituents. I'm campiagning for the Strelley Village part of HS2 to be properly tunnelled."

Introduction:

In January 2013, the Government published its plans to build a station and “hub” at Toton Sidings in 2037 as part of the High Speed 2 rail line to Leeds. This is a great opportunity for Toton, Stapleford and the whole of Broxtowe to create jobs, provide a new fast train service to London and Leeds and to improve our transport infrastructure. You can find out more about HS2 on the Phase 2 website here, with detailed maps of the route being displayed here (the maps for the section running through Broxtowe can be found here and here).

Anna Soubry MP and local Conservatives welcome HS2 for the opportunities that it will provide for people who live in Broxtowe. However, Labour and Lib-Dem run Broxtowe Borough Council welcomed HS2 coming to Toton by reopening consultation over Green belt land in the area and on 13th January 2014 voted in favour of a minimum of 500 houses on Green Belt land at Toton. Your MP believes that the new station at Toton should be used to create jobs and develop the local economy, not as an excuse to construct 750 houses on Green Belt land in Toton.

Due to the size and scale of the HS2 project, there will be some disruption to a small number of households in Broxtowe, especially at Nuthall, Strelley, Trowell and Toton. As your MP, Anna Soubry is committed to getting the best deal for those affected by HS2.

The Secretary of State is expected to make a decision on the preferred route by the end of this year and once the preferred route is announced and the next stage of design is reached, HS2 will be engaging with residents in more detail.

This page is a resource where people can come to get the latest HS2 news from Anna, see copies of letters Anna has sent to Government departments about HS2 (scroll down for more information) and learn about the work Anna is doing on this important matter. If you have any questions about HS2 and Anna's work, please contact Anna at [email protected]

Recent HS2 News:

12th November 2014

Hope for Toton’s Green Belt?

On Tuesday evening Broxtowe Councillors debated the Council’s plans to build on Toton’s Green Belt.

Conservative Councillors successfully argued that the Council should not be working towards its previous plans for a “strategic location for growth” following the recent announcement that the HS2 hub may not be built at Toton.

Following a lengthy debate the committee voted to recommend that there should be no building on Toton’s Green Belt if the station is built elsewhere, this was opposed by Labour Councillor’s despite their leader, Cllr Milan Radulovic, previously promising “If HS2 doesn’t come we will be opposing the 500 homes. If it doesn’t go ahead nothing will go ahead.” The only Lib Dem present, David Watts, abstained from voting.

The recommendation will now go to the Council’s Cabinet later this year

Anna Soubry said; “Cllr Radulovic must now show us that he meant what he said when he promised no building at Toton if HS2 does not go ahead there, so far his own councillors have appeared to demonstrate that these were just hollow words”

27 October, 2014

Anna Soubry, MP for Broxtowe has expressed her disappointment that Toton is no longer the preferred site for an East Midland High Speed Rail Hub.

Speaking after HS2 announced they are considering other sites for the station Anna said; “I am clearly disappointed as I believe Toton would be an excellent location for the station, however an alternative route may mean the Hs2 line completely avoids us in Broxtowe which would be welcomed in Strelley Village and parts of Trowell, Nuthall and Stapleford.”

Anna has discussed the station site with Tranport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and is meeting Sir David Higgins, Chairman of Hs2 to discuss his report on Thursday. Anna said “I will continue to make the case for Toton and I obviously want to know the implications of the route changes on Broxtowe residents. Patrick McLoughlin has made it clear to me that Toton is still a possibility but alternative sites are now being actively explored.”

Anna has also requested an urgent meeting with the leaders of Broxtowe Borough, Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Councils believing that it is vital that local Councils work together to get the best possible outcome for the whole area. Anna said; “The good news from today’s report is that there will be an East Midlands Hub, wherever it is located this will bring huge economic benefit for the region”

24 July, 2014

Broxtowe MP, Anna Soubry, has pledged to continue to defend the constituency's Green Belt land from thousands of houses and ensure full economic advantage is taken of HS2, despite today's announcement from the Planning Inspector. In the face of widespread opposition the Inspector has backed the Borough Councils controversial "Core Strategy". The Council’s local plan will give the go ahead to thousands of houses on Broxtowe’s Green Belt land, including land at Toton earmarked for HS2.

Anna said.  

“I am not at all surprised at the decision, given the Inspector had agreed to Broxtowe’s housing target half way through the public inquiry. I am of course disappointed at the report and in particular the backing for hundreds of houses on Field Farm and at Toton, but the fight to protect our Green Belt is by no means over.  I hope that common sense will prevail, especially given that new brown field sites have been found  that could provide 500 homes by then end of the year.

I am particularly concerned about the impact Broxtowe’s plans will have on the future of HS2 at Toton. HS2 is not just about getting to London more quickly. It is about better train services to great cities like Leeds, but it’s also about connecting up public transport, and it’s about growth – creating jobs for my constituents. I fear Broxtowe plans to build houses for commuters at the cost of jobs for local people. We want and need a world class economic development site at Toton not the second rate offering currently planned . I hope Broxtowe will reconsider and agree that HS2 is about economic growth rather than an excuse to build hundreds of homes on our Green Belt Land. I would like to think that Broxtowe is learning from its failure in Beeston to redevelop the town to take full advantage that the tram promises and will not repeat the mistake at Toton.

I will continue to argue that the Core Strategy is flawed. The housing figures are too high and there has been a woeful lack of public consultation. These are all matters I have and will continue to raise with the Borough Council and with national Government. We have lost a large battle but the war will continue to protect our Green Belt and make sure we don't squander the real opportunities HS2 can and will deliver." 

31st January 2014- Anna Soubry MP submits consultation response

Anna Soubry today submitted her response to the HS2 route consultation, scroll down to read Anna's response.

13th January 2014- Secretary of State at Strelley Hall

Anna Soubry organised a unique Ministerial "surgery" with the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP, in Strelley Hall for people affected by the planned HS2 route. "Well over a dozen constituents met and talked to Patrick. HS2's top people were also on hand to answer questions and solve some residents problems." said Anna "It was a highly constructive set of meetings. A number of Strelley Village residents made their opposition to planned route very clear arguing that Strelley Village was in danger of losing its special qualities if the planned route goes ahead."

Strelley Hall owner, Richard Henshell is one of the residents who met Patrick McLoughlin and argued against the route coming so close to the Hall and Village.

"I would particularly like to thank the Hensall's for their generous hospitality this morning. It was very kind of them to allow us free use of the Hall"

Anna Soubry favours a deep tunnel to carry the HS2 line.

Anna then joined Patrick to look up the tracks to Toton Sidings having previously identified the site at Toton. Anna specifically told the Secretary of State about Broxtowe Borough Council's plans to allow at least 500 houses on the Green Belt land.

"It is difficult to see how such a huge number of houses is compatibile with the plans to use Toton Sidings and my fear is that it will prevent the economic growth HS2 will deliver. Access to the new Tram terminus and A52 will be made almost impossible if Broxtowe give in to developers and allow hundreds of homes."

September 2013- HS2 Consultation Cock-Up!

Anna Soubry has discovered that HS2 are not holding any exhibition of their plans in Broxtowe! The plans will go on show at Bilborough College and there is a two day exhibition in Long Eaton. Anna has written to HS2 asking for residents in Toton, Trowell, Nuthall and Strelley Village to be given the opportunity to see the plans in full and have their say!

The public consultation is now open and closes in January 2014

August 2013- Strelley Village Campaign Committee formed

Anna Soubry MP attended a recent meeting of Strelley Village residents at Strelley Hall. Following this meeting, a campaign committee was formed and Anna agreed with the case put forward by the villagers that the route, should it stay where it is following the consultation, should be tunnelled as it passes through Strelley.
 

August 2013- Phase 2 Public Consultation Opens

The public consultation on the route for Phase 2 of HS2 has begun and will run until 31st January 2014 so there is no great rush. I will continue to consult with constituents and groups over the next few months and will make my submission at the end of the year. Some Strelley residents have requested a meeting with HS2 to understand the plans and I think this is a very good idea which I think should be broadened to include Nuthall and Trowell. Residents in Toton may want a seperate meeting about the plans for the hub.

However, If you wish to have your say now then there are a number of lengthy consultation documents, which give background to both HS2 and the Eastern route, which runs through Broxtowe.
These documents can be read on the HS2 website - please click  here.

• You can take part in the consultation on the route in a number of ways: by completing the online response form on the HS2 website here
• by emailing HS2 Ltd at: [email protected] or
• by writing to HS2 Ltd at: Freepost RTEL-YAZX-HAZT, Phase Two Route Consultation, PO Box 1152, Harrow, HA1 9LH.

I have been assured by both the Government and HS2 Ltd that all views expressed in this public consultation will be taken into account and considered carefully.  I know that responses to the consultation on Phase 1 has led to significant changes in the London- Birmingham section of the route.

22nd May 2013: Transport Minister sees HS2 route through Broxtowe

Broxtowe MP, Anna Soubry took Transport Minister, Simon Burns to the proposed route of HS2 through the constituency. Simon visited Toton Sidings where the East Midlands hub and station would be built. “HS2 has been widely welcomed on the basis it will provide growth and jobs as well as quick access to London and Leeds” said Anna “However, there is concern at the route notably in Strelley Village, Nuthall and Trowell so I took Simon to those parts of the constituency as well.”

HS2 is a long way off but the public consultation process starts at the end of the year and houses on the preferred route have been notified and many offered compensation.

“Improving and investing in our infrastructure has been a Government priority” said Anna “with the dualling of the A453, electrification and improvement to Midland Mainline and the extension of the tram through Beeston to Chilwell and Toton.”

At Strelley a boxed tunnel is planned as well as cuttings for the tracks “I have already met with villagers at Strelley who are concerned at the impact on their lovely environment and I spoke at length to Simon about their fears when I took him to Strelley. At Nuthall the plan is to elevate the line to run parallel with the M1 and again I took Simon to Nottingham Road and raised all the concerns with him”.