Forum Topic

HS2

We learn that the Chinese will probably build HS2. I understand Alstom have taken over Bombardier and wonder why we have not asked this group for their possible interest in this project.

Nicholas Beard ● 2002d10 Comments

Guy, you beat me to it! We live on a flood plain!! Protected for now by the Thames Barrier and the the river defences built at the same time. The Barrier is projected to need replacement 2050 or thereabouts....

Iain Muir ● 1994d

"Why would anyone buy a property on a flood-plain?"Because they want to live almost anywhere in Fulham or Barnes, much of Chiswick, Hammersmith, Brentford, Isleworth, Chelsea etc?https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-flood-risk-map-shows-areas-of-the-capital-most-in-danger-10039405.html

Guy Lambert ● 1997d

Why would anyone buy a property on a flood-plain?

Steve Taylor ● 1997d

I dont think you could get civil unrest over HS2. People generally just buckle under and take what comes.

Nicholas Beard ● 1999d

good drainage also saves on road repairs. if water gets underneath a road and freezes, it expands and damaeges the road, which is one reason why our roads are quite poor.

Christopher Gillie ● 1999d

That is a crucial point TO MAINTAIN DRAINS AND DITCHES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE!

Nicholas Beard ● 1999d

Hear, hear - of course it's madness to build housing estates on flood plains.  Back to digging proper ditches and maintaining them regularly to drain the fields after heavy rainfalls.  Regular cleaning of road gutters and drains to prevent flooded roads in cities, the suburbs, market towns and villages.

Jennifer Selig ● 2000d

Before we pour £100 billion into flood defences we should legislate to make it illegal to build on flood plains.

Christopher Gillie ● 2000d

And rural bus /train links.

Keith Iddon ● 2002d

Scrap HS2 and put all the money into flood defences.

Reg Ghosh ● 2002d

Not according to Grant Shapps on The Andrew Marr show they aren't. For once I thought he actually made a good point. The Chinese can build these large infrastructure projects quickly because they don't have the same planning legislation and processes and laws protecting people and some sites as we do, they just do things regardless of who gets in the way. With people all ready up in arms about HS2 that would quite possibly mean civil unrest in some quarters.

Vanessa Smith ● 2002d