November 20, 2012, 11:04 am -- /EPR NETWORK/ -- Proposals for an improved design for HS2 around Aylesbury, if it goes ahead, have been revealed by the National Trust.
Whilst being neutral over the principle of HS2, the National Trust opposes the specific proposed route in the Aylesbury area and through the Chilterns AONB.
This is because of its landscape and other impacts, especially on Hartwell House, where it would require the acquisition of the Trust’s land.
The plans revealed today show how the impact on hundreds of people's lives and the special places they care about could be reduced if HS2 Ltd plans for mitigation on a big enough scale.
This would include acquiring additional land either side of the railway line to give room for the necessary landscaping and other measures, such as creating a 600m long 'land bridge' for the route as it crosses through the Hartwell House estate and next to Fairford Leys, where many local people will be heavily affected by the railway.
This would involve building the land up on either side of the line, then placing a lid on top, with vegetation and tree planting covering it. Wide, landscaped embankments which would screen trains and conceal noise barriers and security fencing also feature.
A range of specialist consultants, including experts in rail engineering, landscape character, landscape architecture, noise and hydrology have been brought in by the National Trust to advise on the best possible mitigation over an 8km stretch of the line from Stoke Mandeville, around Aylesbury and up to Waddesdon.
Since the route for HS2 was published in January this year, the Trust has been talking to local authorities, parish councils, landowners, other charities and organisations, as well as HS2 Ltd, aiming for proposals which take into account the views of as many people as possible who are affected by the line.
Peter Nixon, director of conservation for the National Trust, said: "Although HS2 is still not a foregone conclusion, and we object to the route chosen, in case it does go ahead it’s sensible for us to negotiate for the best scheme which minimises its impact for as many people as possible and on the special places they care about.
"We hope our proposals, which draw on our practical experience elsewhere, raise expectations of what could be achieved.
"There is still a lot of detail to work up. This would have to be done with HS2 Ltd, the community, local authorities and landowners and we believe a collaborative approach here will deliver the best scheme if HS2 does go ahead.
"We hope that HS2 Ltd and the Government will adopt this scheme, however we have also been clear that if this is not the case we would be prepared to petition Parliament in order to try and get the scheme included in the necessary legislation."
The current proposed route of HS2 will pass directly through the Hartwell House estate which has an international history and significance stretching back almost a thousand years to the reign of Edward the Confessor.
It also passes within view of Coombe Hill in the Chilterns; through the Waddesdon Estate which has a Victorian garden thought to be one of best in Britain; and close to Claydon House, once home to Florence Nightingale.
The scheme has already received backing from a number of local groups.
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About The National Trust
The National Trust looks after more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 710 miles
of coastline and hundreds of historic places across England, Wales and Northern
Ireland. For more information on countryside conservation and ideas for great value family days
out go to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
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www.nationaltrust.org.uk