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Community Forums are intended to provide an opportunity for local representatives to raise issues of importance to them and to reach consensus on preferred mitigations for HS2 Ltd. Attendance at a Forum does not indicate support by these groups for the scheme. HS2 Ltd hosts and attends Community Forums, and has undertaken to record and publish issues, actions and requests raised during these events on their website. The matters raised by forum members are their views, and publication by HS2 Ltd should not be construed as acceptance or agreement with the sentiments expressed.

Washwood Heath to Curzon Street Community Forum

December 3rd 2012, 6.30pm to 8.30pm Ward End Library, Washwood Heath Road, Ward End, Birmingham B8 2HF

DRAFT Note

Contact: Community.Forums@hs2.org.uk

Forum Attendees Chair – Martin Brooks Mel Jones – Birmingham City Council Phil Bullows – Friends of the Earth Philip Singleton – Millennium Point & Eastside Forum Gabriela Butler – Digbeth Residents Association Maurice Craythorne – Local Business Representative Keith Simpson – Local Business Representative Mr P S Dansi-Ward End Resident & Business owner Mrs Fatima Mulla - Ward End Resident & Business owner Mrs Sidhu - Ward End Resident & Business owner HS2 Representatives Donovan Bailey - West Midlands Stakeholder Manager, HS2 Ltd Jonathan Lord - West Midlands Stakeholder Advisor, HS2 Ltd Lisa Levy - Head of Community & Stakeholder Engagement, HS2 Ltd Area Manager, HS2 Ltd Senior Engineer, HS2 Ltd Environmental Manager, HS2 Ltd

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Issues raised by forum • Note of last meeting - minutes from the last community forum on 24th September 2012

were accepted by forum members. • Actions Update - a forum member sought further details on Action No.2 arising from

September’s meeting in relation to the impact on access improvements to and from Park Street and Shaws Passage (see action 1). In the context of discussions relating to the circulated aerial plans, the following issues were raised by community forum members:

• Confirmation of the actual site of the proposed maintenance depot at Washwood Heath – forum members sought clarification on the actual location of the depot and the amount of land take, including proposed structures and associated infrastructure. HS2 Ltd reaffirmed that the depot itself will cover a much smaller site than that identified in both the current safeguarding and post consultation maps. The detailed design of the depot is on-going and is likely to include a daily servicing area, within a canopy building, and a less frequent, more specialised servicing area located within a shed-like structure along with balancing ponds and car parking. Further details will be shared with the community forum at future meetings (see action 2). In response to concerns raised about the extent of the depot site and the impact on the wider, former LDV and Alstom site, HS2 Ltd confirmed that this is still being finalised but will need to be sufficient to accommodate access and areas for construction. This may result in additional space being required beyond that for the depot on a temporary basis during the scheme’s construction phase. A Birmingham City Council representative confirmed that it is in daily discussions with HS2 Ltd about the progression of both the depot and Curzon Street Station. The city council is concerned about the impact on Washwood Heath and is seeking clarification on how much land is required so that it can develop a strategy for releasing the remaining land to the market. Birmingham City Council is still to arrive at a formal decision on the depot and will be submitting a response to the current safeguarding consultation in January. HS2 Ltd stated that the Hybrid Bill will set out the land take required for the depot which will be included within the draft Environmental Statement in Spring 2013.

• The future of the wider Washwood Heath site - the forum sought clarification on what is planned for the site beyond that required for the depot. A Birmingham City Council representative stated that there is a need for a detailed masterplan for the site which will depend on HS2’s land take whilst confirming that the site is designated as a key employment area within its emerging Birmingham Development Plan. A further question related to whether the Washwood Heath site is being considered for the proposed wholesale markets relocation. Birmingham City Council stated that it was not able to confirm this (see action 3). HS2 Ltd confirmed that the depot will bring a range of skilled jobs to the site and will be seeking to bring best practice from elsewhere in terms of ensuring local people develop sufficient skills to both build and run the infrastructure proposed. This will start with training through the development of a forecasting model to predict what is needed to upskill and train local people.

• The need to avoid past planning mistakes in relation to creating pedestrian friendly routes through and under Curzon Street Station – a community forum member stressed the need to ensure access under the station avoids replicating the mistakes of the Bullring tunnel link between Moor Street Station to New Street Station. A suggestion was made for the links to mirror the Mailbox underpass with lighting and art schemes to

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create an attractive environment. HS2 Ltd confirmed that it is their aspiration for the links to be attractive thoroughfares containing active frontages with New Canal Street link containing access and egress to the platforms whilst accommodating the existing Eagle & Tonne public house (see action 4).

• Clarification on whether the station roof cover will result in dark tunnelled routes and platforms – concern was expressed that the station roof would preclude daylight from penetrating the platforms and under station routes resulting in dark spaces. HS2 Ltd confirmed that it is working with the station designers to overcome this issue (see action 4).

• Concern over the proposed highway layout at New Canal Street in front of The Curzon Street Arch. A forum member sought clarification that the proposed road layout is not taking a corner off the Curzon Arch and questioned that it appeared to represent an engineering solution in the context of the newly created pedestrian realm at Eastside Park. HS2 Ltd confirmed that the Curzon Arch is not impacted by the road layout although the impact on the Grade I listed wall to the side of the building is being assessed.

• Update on the impact on heritage assets – further to the previous forum meeting, HS2 Ltd offered an update on the impact on heritage related issues. The options for the Grade II Listed Fox & Grapes Public House are still progressing in terms of how the building is considered as part of the overall design for the station. HS2 Ltd is in the process of arranging access to the building to undertake surveys to investigate the state of its heritage assets. Work is in progress to look at wider heritage assets within the area around the station and HS2 Ltd is undertaking a study to document key heritage features which will be considered through the Environmental Impact Assessment and considers existing assets. HS2 Ltd reiterated that it is looking to maintain and enhance heritage assets where practicable. Some may need to be re-modelling for incorporation within the scheme.

• Confirmation of the proposals for the road realignment and highway changes to Bromford Lane roundabout – a community forum member sought clarification on the current proposals for the Bromford lane roundabout. HS2 Ltd confirmed that the design is very complicated and a scheme will be required to enable a road layout which is sufficiently tall to accommodate HS2 tracks. This is still in the detailed design and development stage (see action 5).

• Impact of safeguarding designation on land that is currently unattractive or neglected – a question was tabled in relation to whether safeguarding could prohibit development taking place which may improve the local area but conflict with HS2’s objectives. HS2 Ltd confirmed that it is not in its interest to keep land in a poor quality condition and that the current safeguarding area will need to be limited and set out in the Hybrid Bill. Nothing is confirmed until this stage. HS2 Ltd stated that it is its intention to learn from best practice elsewhere for large infrastructure projects and seek to deliver temporary landscaping and betterment projects through working with local communities and local authorities, including schools and local artists, to improve the appearance and use of safeguarded land in advance of final use by HS2 or for other development (see action 6).

• The need to ensure wider connectivity to and from Curzon Street Station – a community forum member emphasised the need to ensure people can move in and out and around the station and not just focus on the journey time between the station to other destinations. HS2 Ltd stated that it is working with partners including Birmingham City Council and CENTRO to look at the station’s wider connectivity.

• Improvements to local destinations from the station - linked to above was the suggestion that walking and cycling improvements need to be considered. HS2 Ltd stated that this was being considered as part of the detailed design of the station.

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• Communication and engagement – HS2 Ltd offered an update on their engagement and communication activities to date. This including presenting at Ward Committee meetings, the Digbeth Regeneration Summit, The Overpool Neighbourhood Forum and meetings with individuals around the forum area. An engagement strategy has been produced and HS2 Ltd agreed to circulate for comment (see action 7).

• Property Compensation Consultation – questions following the presentation included: how many properties were located within the safeguarding area and the location of the consultation roadshows. HS2 Ltd confirmed that not many residential properties are located within the safeguarding area and that whilst the Birmingham roadshows had already taken place further roadshows are planned within Staffordshire & Warwickshire (see action 7).

• Noise monitoring locations - HS2 Ltd explained that they are seeking forum members to identify locations to be considered for noise monitoring and that a pro-forma is available for members to complete and return (see action 8).

• Code of Construction Practice - in response to a question relating to how communities can input into the consultation arrangements for this document, HS2 Ltd confirmed that they had originally shared the first draft version with Birmingham City Council and that a formal consultation is planned for Spring 2013. A Local Environment Plan will be produced by Birmingham City Council following the submission of the Hybrid Bill (see action 9).

Actions 1. HS2 Ltd to contact Birmingham Friends of the Earth to arrange bilateral meeting to

discuss access issues in more detail; particularly the impact on their property by w/c 17th Dec.

2. HS2 Ltd to update the forum at its next meeting on how the designs of the proposed depot are progressing (February meeting).

3. Birmingham City Council to provide an update on the masterplan for Washwood Heath site at the next community forum meeting (February meeting).

4. HS2 Ltd to confirm inclusion of high quality illumination and design as part of the on-going station design work for a presentation at a future community forum to enable forum input into emerging proposals.

5. HS2 Ltd to update forum members on the proposals for highway changes at the Bromford Roundabout at the next community forum meeting (February meeting).

6. HS2 Ltd to consider the issue of betterment and best practice when dealing with land impacted by HS2 prior and during construction for a further discussion at a future forum meeting once safeguarding confirmed.

7. HS2 Ltd to circulate draft engagement and communication strategy for comment. To be circulated with meeting note.

8. HS2 Ltd to distribute details of property compensation roadshows in Warwickshire & Staffordshire by 7th December (Forum Members are welcome to attend these roadshows).

9. HS2 Ltd to distribute copies of the noise monitoring pro-forma by 7th December. 10. HS2 Ltd to confirm details of the consultation arrangements for the Code of

Construction Practice. A note to be circulated with meeting notes.