Petition as locals rally to halt HS2 lorry routes in Balsall Common - The Coventry Observer

Petition as locals rally to halt HS2 lorry routes in Balsall Common

Coventry Editorial 27th Mar, 2021   0

A MAJOR petition has been launched in a bid to stop three planning applications for HS2 lorry routes in Balsall Common.

The initiative is being co-ordinated by local residents as the momentum behind HS2 grows at nears the Second City.

Campaigner Andy Ogilvie said: “These applications ask for 400 additional lorry movements daily (200 return trips) through Balsall Common which is entirely avoidable if HS2 use a haul route that runs directly alongside the proposed route of HS2.

“With compounds established at Park Lane and Waste Lane it makes absolute sense to have an internal haul road rather than using public roads in the village.




“If HS2 pursue their plans it will only serve to leave residents with loss of amenity, an increase in noise and air pollution and increased dangers to health, safety and wellbeing.”

Residents say the roundabout currently being constructed at the junction of the A452 and Park Lane was designed to enable HS2 traffic to enter the Park Lane compound and then service construction works along an internal continuous trace-line haul route, thereby minimising disruption to Balsall Common roads and residents.


They say that HS2’s submitted planning applications show they intend to abandon their intent to sensitively work in collaboration with the local councillors and residents, thereby adding further unnecessary disruption to a community that is already heavily affected by the new railway.

The petition, which was set up on Sunday night, already has the support of the local MP and the Meriden councillors, already has more than 1,100 signatories.

Meriden MP Saqib Bhatti, a keen supporter of HS2, said in a letter of support to protesters: “Please be assured I share your concerns.

“I have written to the head of Solihull planning about the concerns residents have been raising as well as to HS2 regarding the alternative continuous trace line haul route which could be used to mitigate the impact for local residents and alleviate traffic on local roads.”

The planning applications are:

a) PL/2021/00471 – permission for 200 HGVs each way per day along the A452, Kelsey Lane and Waste Lane, with a small number continuing along Hodgetts Lane and Truggist Lane

b) PL/2021/00276 and PL/2021/00473 – permission for up to 200 HGVs each way per day along both parts of Hallmeadow Rd, with a new access off the roundabout by the Balsall Common Medical Centre to create a haul route behind the Legion and Unity/Carstins Garage towards Waste Lane.

The petition can be found here

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