Published: February 09, 2012
by DAN CARRIER

A LABOUR councillor at the heart of negotiations with the government over the HS2 rail link has accused Transport Secretary Justine Greening of being “belligerent” during their ­latest meeting.

Sarah Hayward said the Conservative minister was not prepared to discuss the idea of starting and ending the new £33bn London to Birmingham route at Old Oak Common in west London rather than Euston.

The Town Hall fears that the government is eyeing up the area around Euston station as a way to raise money to offset the cost of the high-speed line.

Councillors say the money that could be made on a refurbished Euston should go back to Camden.

Cllr Hayward was among representatives from Camden who met Ms Greening yesterday (Wednesday).

She said: “We restated our opposition and spoke about the impact of the plans. We also asked what money would be available to plan what we will do in Camden if it goes ahead. She was quite dismissive and we fear they will use it as a cash cow for the rest of the line. That is not on.”

The councillor added: “We pressed them on Old Oak Common but Justine Greening made it clear that it will be Euston and that was what she was prepared to discuss. She was belligerent about it and says it will go there.”

The Transport Secretary was accused of being poorly briefed, despite being surrounded by a phalanx of advisors.

According to those present, Ms Greening wasted vital minutes during the half-hour meeting by speaking at length about issues in the Chilterns.

Cllr Hayward added: “We did not want to hear about how they were going to build a trench there. We wanted to hear about the work that may take place in Camden.”

The government is also being lobbied by Primrose Hill-based Gloucester Avenue Association over the route out of Camden westwards.

The proposed plans have the train going underground at the top of Parkway in Camden Town and beneath Gloucester Avenue, but the association says the route could easily be moved a few metres.

Martin Sheppard, who set up the association in the face of the new rail link plans, said: “There is a strong case for moving the tunnels so they run under existing railway land instead of the houses of Gloucester Avenue.

“It would have minimal impact on journey times and would remove a threat, real or perceived, to hundreds of people living in houses with shallow foundations.”

He added that the current uncertainty would lead to “planning blight’, with residents unable to move or spend money on home improvements while such a massive scheme is being considered.

Moving the route could allow a historic building designed by railway pioneer Robert Stephenson to be opened to the public. The grade II-listed winding station at Primrose Hill – used to help steam trains get up the hill from Euston – has lain empty for more than 100 years.

Mr Sheppard believes if the track was moved slightly, the winding house could be opened to the public. He said: “These chambers are a unique survival from the early history of the railways and could be conserved and developed for a number of  uses.”