Licensees fear trade impact from HS2 rail link

HS2, due for completion in 2033, will carve through areas of countryside between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, costing an estimated £37.2bn.

Construction on stage one from London to Birmingham is expected to begin in 2017, with stage two from Leeds to Manchester completed by 2033.

Opposition has come from a number of parties and the PMA discovered the extent to which licensees are fearful of the impact it could have on their own livelihoods.

Paul Crook, of the White Swan, in Wendover, Buckinghamshire explained how the rail track will cut across a short route to the pub taken by several customers.

“A few live [on] the other side of where it is being built , so the usual five-minute walk to the pub will become an eight-mile round trip,” said Crook. “Some will lose their houses too because of compulsory purchase orders.

“As a high-street pub we depend heavily on passing trade, but we’ll lose quite a bit — people may not have time to stop because of the traffic.”

One of his customers had drafted a letter to HS2 outlining their opposition to the proposals, which has 50 signatures, including Crook’s.

Meanwhile, another licensee in Oxfordshire fears he could lose a large part of his regular custom.

Mark Fleming, licensee of the Inn at Greatworth, said: “The whole village is up in arms. In this recession, I don’t know how they can afford HS2, and our glorious countryside should be preserved.

“We have been here for two- and-a-half years and we have built up a loyal base of customers, most of whom are saying they will up and leave. They (HS2) say that we won’t hear the train, but of course we will.”

Fleming added that he was planning to rename the pub ‘the Rocket’ to coincide with the construction of HS2 and vowed to carry on trading as long as he could.

• Are you going to be affected by the rail link? email nqnz.crfpbq@jeoz.pbz​​