Christopher Pincher Votes against HS2 Paving Bill

Last week in Parliament Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, chose to vote against his own party line and against the HS2 Paving Bill when it was debated in the House of Commons.

The Paving Bill is designed to provide funds for the continuing development of HS2 as well as money for continued mitigation work and compensation for those affected.  It was the first time since the announcement of the plans in 2010 that the issue has been voted on in Parliament.  However, Mr Pincher felt that, in the absence of a Property Bond proposal to underwrite the pre-blight value of homes and restore confidence to the property market as well as better mitigation measures for Hints, Weeford and Drayton Bassett, he could not support the Bill.

Mr Pincher said, “I feel I must put my constituents first.  I understand that some feel the HS2 project is in the national interest but the concerned voices of those whose homes and communities are blighted, right now, by the proposals need to be heard.”

Mr Pincher was one of just 27 MPs who voted against the Bill, which took place on Wednesday 26th June.  An overwhelming majority of 330, from across the political spectrum, voted in favour.

Mr Pincher concluded, “With Labour, Lib Dem, Scottish Nationalist as well as Conservative MPs in favour of this project it seems clear that, in some shape or form, it is going to go ahead.  It is therefore important that we fight for the best possible mitigation for those villages affected and the best compensation package for people whose homes are blighted.

“And we must continue to fight Labour’s threat to move the planned marshalling yard out of Birmingham and drop it slap bang in the countryside near Middleton and Drayton Bassett.”