Back in November 2021 the Government released its Integrated Rail Plan which scrapped the Eastern leg of HS2b which was planned to run from East Midlands Parkway to Leeds, devastating many of the rural communities across Bolsover. This was very welcome news but the lasting impact of HS2 safeguarding is still harming our communities.
Safeguarding (the protection of HS2-owned land) is still in place in many villages and for developments along the proposed route. This is causing great difficulties for those who want to sell their homes or invest in our area. Many of those who live in homes now owned by HS2 Limited, managed by Carter Jonas, have also seen standards fall and their rent rise substantially, sometimes as high as 35%.
I am fighting for safeguarding to be removed along the proposed HS2b route both in the House of Commons chamber and in numerous meetings with Ministers and officials at HS2 Limited.
With the HS2b Eastern leg now scrapped, our constituency is benefiting from increased investment in other areas.
Further studies into the plans to extend the Maid Marian and Robin Hood Lines were committed to in the Integrated Rail Plan and I am fighting hard for greater investment in our motorway infrastructure at Junctions 28 and 29 of the M1 and for the Darfoulds Bridge in Whitwell to be lowered for HGV traffic.
