Today Greg welcomed the HS2 Construction Commissioner Sir Mark Worthington, and the HS2 Residents Commissioner Stewart Jackson, to the constituency to observe the ongoing effects of construction on residents and businesses across North Buckinghamshire and to listen to their concerns.
Commenting, Greg said: "My work dealing with the enormous impact of construction of HS2 continues.
"In the small hamlet of Chetwode, clumps of mud from HS2’s compounds remain strewn across the road, creating a critical highways safety hazard. The once pristine landscape is now littered with bright yellow dumper trucks and spotlights illuminate the entire area at night. This is unacceptable in a rural setting.
"Further south, in Quainton, the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre risks losing a crucial stream of income through wedding ceremonies because of the visual impact from Network Rail’s bridge works. Residents have also been cut off from Waddesdon by foot, which I gather HS2 wasn’t even aware of before today. Combined with the residual impact of road closures and confusing signage on bus services, which are crucial for residents reaching nearby shops and GP surgeries, it is absolutely vital that both Network Rail, HS2 and their contractors speak with each other and involve local stakeholders when co-ordinating their works.
"I and the Commissioners are determined to help minimise the impact of HS2 on rural communities, which are always neglected when projects of this size and scale act in isolation from each other and the surrounding communities."
