There are sensible reasons to kick-start the HS2 procurement process on what will be an incredibly complex and long-term construction project ahead of a final decision to go ahead with it being made.
But despite the repeated insistence by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond that his decision to let HS2 Ltd ‘get started’ is subject to his final decision on HS2 later this year, his letter will give more ammunition to those who feel the entire consultation has been more a ‘talking’ exercise than a ‘listening’ one – attempting to sell a project on which the DfT has already made up its mind, rather than getting people’s views.
Few people genuinely expect Hammond to suddenly throw up his arms and abandon the entire scheme – but the consultation and the huge number of responses to it, from simple ‘yes’ and ‘no’ type missives to the incredibly detailed reports some bodies have produced, should, let’s hope result in a better scheme in the long-term.
