HS2 delays: What would they mean for Lichfield?

Residents in and around Lichfield say they fear road closures for HS2 works will continue after a two-year delay to the project was announced.

Lichfield sits at the northern point of phase 1 of the project and the southern point of phase 2a with some works already under way in the city.

Its location has sparked concern as to where the works are due to be paused.

HS2 confirmed it would be pressing ahead with works in the village of Fradley in the district of Lichfield.

The high-speed rail line will eventually travel through a tunnel beneath the A38 in Lichfield, and roads in Fradley and Streethay on the eastern outskirts of the city have been closed after works began.

Residents said they had "put up" with closures, expecting roads to reopen within 18 months, but worry a delay of two years would have a negative impact.

Phase 1, which will see the line connect Birmingham and London, will still go ahead. However, it is the onward phase, connecting Birmingham and Crewe, that will be delayed in a bid to cut costs.

The industry has warned the government the delay will increase costs in the long term and concerns have been raised the link to Crewe could end up being scrapped altogether.

In Lichfield, the works have meant the A38 slip road at Streethay has been closed since August, adding extra travel times for people in the area trying to get into Lichfield.

Graham and Carole Griffith, who live in the area, say it has had a real impact on their journey times to their church in Fradley.

They go at least four times a week and the church community is an important part of their lives - Carole runs weekly craft groups and Graham sings in the choir.

The road closures add an extra 20 minutes to their journeys to the church they've attended for a decade which they said was "a big impact for us".

"We don't want to stop going," Mrs Griffith said.

"It will just cost us more in time and petrol."

Raj Kandola, from the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said his members also had concerns about the delays.

He said the HS2 rail project had brought investment to the region, brought "economic centres closer together" and brought "wider business confidence", but he believes outside investors want to see it "delivered in full and as quick as possible".

He warned further delays are "going to have a knock-on effect on business confidence".

In order to navigate the road closures, many local people rely on nearby country roads which councillors say are becoming congested and are unsuitable for the increased traffic.

"It is a worry for us," said local councillor Michael Wilcox.

"It restricts the access into the city.

"It really is very difficult, but we put up with it thinking it's only for a short time."

As of yet, he and fellow Conservative councillor Tom Marshall said they had not been made aware as to whether the A38 slip would remain closed for the duration of the delays.

"We don't have much indication what it is going to look like for residents," said Mr Marshall, who has long been an open opponent of HS2.

He said work in the city had been "disruptive" with road closures but the situation "is likely to get worse".

The city's Conservative MP Michael Fabricant also reacted angrily to the news of the delay and said the area had been "blighted by construction sites".

"Will the route from Birmingham to Crewe be completely stopped? If it is, what about all the building works going on through Lichfield and other places at the moment?" he asked.

Speaking about the A38 tunnel, he said: "Are they going to leave it as it is, in which case it's a mess, or are they going to restore it?"

The MP, who has been an outspoken critic of HS2, has asked the government to respond to his questions with an oral statement by Monday.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has said he is "committed" to the line linking London, the Midlands and the North of England.

An HS2 spokesperson said it had been "transparent about our cost challenges" and welcomed the government's commitment to delivering the service from London to Manchester.

"[We] have worked closely with the government to reach a solution which ensures we continue to boost regional economies, support the drive to net-zero and better connect our towns and cities," they added.

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