{"id":508912,"date":"2024-11-05T11:19:40","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T11:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=508912"},"modified":"2024-11-05T11:19:40","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T11:19:40","slug":"hs2-works-may-have-contributed-to-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/civils\/hs2\/hs2-works-may-have-contributed-to-flooding-05-11-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"HS2 works \u2018may have contributed\u2019 to flooding\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

HS2 works may have compounded flooding in some areas, according to the construction commissioner scrutinising the project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In his latest report, covering the second quarter of 2024, independent commissioner for HS2 Sir Mark Worthington said he had heard \u201ca number of reports of localised flooding impacting upon residents and communities\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIn a limited number of cases, HS2 works may have contributed to the problems\u201d adding that as winter approaches, contractors ought to be \u201calert to potential flooding problems and act quickly where this occurs\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the commissioner, who is tasked with monitoring the impact of HS2\u2019s construction on the public, acknowledged that it had been \u201ca particularly wet year\u201d and said \u201cthe wider issue has been the British weather\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEngagement teams will need to explain the obvious with patience and understanding,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI welcome the fact that in some areas, HS2, though not responsible, has been working with local authorities, other agencies and landowners to try to coordinate responses to the problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in his report Worthington said that the decision to discontinue HS2 Phase 2b had led to a restructure and loss of jobs at HS2 Ltd, which raises \u201cpotential reasons for concerns\u201d regarding public engagement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe loss of this experience and the reduction in numbers of personnel working directly for HS2 Ltd will shift the onus on dealing with public engagement towards the contractor teams,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey will need to absorb many of the lessons which HS2 Ltd has learned over the past seven years and to adjust their working practices to mirror HS2\u2019s experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cI shall be observing closely how the new structure meets the challenges and I hope that there is no falling back of standards of public engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HS2 works may have compounded flooding in some areas, according to the construction commissioner scrutinising the project.\u00a0 In his latest report, covering the second quarter of 2024, independent commissioner for HS2 Sir Mark Worthington said he had heard \u201ca number of reports of localised flooding impacting upon residents and communities\u201d.\u00a0 He said: \u201cIn a limited …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90383,"featured_media":489901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[549,39314],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n