Author Archives: hvrawebmaster

New Anti-HS2 Campaign Director

Press release from AGAHST says: The AGAHST Federation (Actions Groups Against High Speed Rail Two) has appointed Deanne DuKhan as Campaign Director with immediate effect. The role is full time and will strengthen the campaign and build on growing public and media opposition to HS2. Previously head of the AGAHST Parliamentary Liaison Group, Deanne was appointed by and reports to a new Campaign Board which brings together AGAHST, HS2 Action Alliance, Stop HS2 and Transport Sense. To allow for the growing number of action groups, AGAHST is now organised in regional groups, currently South and Central, with NW and NE forums to be added as the route to Manchester and Leeds is announced.

Jerry Marshall, Chair of the Campaign Board says “Deanne is the right person for the next stage of the campaign, as we take new legal and political action. Momentum against HS2 is building and the new business case is even worse than before, with a net benefit ratio under 50p for every £1 invested when up-to-date information and assumptions are used. It is only a matter of time before Government comes to its senses and begins to invest in our real rail needs, create jobs and growth, and abandons this vanity project.”

For more information please contact Jerry Marshall, Chairman, AGAHST (Action Groups Against High Speed Two) on chair@betterthanhs2.org or 07941 017236 (mobile).

Valley Wives January Update

From Joan Steel
We have a D.I Y evening in January to save speakers having to travel in the event of bad weather. This year we had a Butterfly Drive, which is played like Beetle but by drawing butterflies, so is quite difficult to play at speed, because of more detail in the shape. In recognition of this, Jill gave a prize for the best looking butterfly! Later we had a picture of 12 butterflies to which we had to match the correct names. The whole evening caused much fun and chatter Many thanks to Jill for arranging this.which must have taken some effort to do and as always she makes her every task look easy.

Our next meeting is on February 3rd when Amanda Rayner’s subject is “The Language of the Fan”.

A small competition is to take place each meeting, so this time you are invited to bring an item of interest beginning with the letter S, which is to be judged by the speaker.

On 23rd March a Dinner and Concert by the “Greatest Hits Choir” has been arranged for our fund raising effort. Please come and bring husbands and friends. Tickets £22 from Doreen Bellamy, telephone 01494 564877. Doors open at 7 pm for 7.30pm start.

HS2 Go Ahead Announced

As widely reported Justine Greening the Secretary of State for Transport has announced the go ahead for the HS2 project with the addition of some new tunnelling. Those that affect our area are a longer, continuous tunnel from Little Missenden to the M25 through the Chilterns and a longer green tunnel to significantly reduce impacts around Wendover and an extension to the green tunnel at South Heath.  In addition there will be a new 2.75 mile bored tunnel along the Northolt Corridor to entirely avoid major works to the Chilterns Line and impacts on local communities in the Ruislip area.  There will also be a longer green tunnel past Chipping Warden and Aston Le Walls, and a curve added to the route to avoid a cluster of important heritage sites around Edgcote.  For full map detail follow this link.  Incidentally, a green tunnel is built differently to a bored tunnel.  The soil is excavated on the surface, a tube is placed in the excavation and is then covered over with soil, plants and grass.  It is the same principle as was used at the infamous Tesco tunnel in Gerrards Cross.  Her full written statement is as follows:

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