In the Bolsover constituency the proposed route for HS2 snaked around the M1 several times causing untold delay and disruption for my residents. Plans for major infrastructure projects, such as improvements to Junction 29 of the M1, could not be finalised due to the uncertainty caused from HS2. And communities would have been devastated by the proposed route.
But for what benefit? It seemed to me that we were suffering all the pain of HS2 without any gains. The project would not have been delivered for another 20 years and I have long argued for the money to be spent on local transport projects.
I am absolutely delighted that the Government has announced that HS2 Phase 2b (Eastern Leg) will no longer go as far north as the Bolsover constituency and will instead terminate at East Midlands Parkway. This will be a massive relief for residents across the constituency, in particular for those living in communities along the route which would have been devastated by HS2.
