A major consultation exercise is underway about the plans for the new high speed rail network proposed by the Government. It will operate at two levels

1. The Government, is consulting about the overal principle of building a high speed rail network.
2. High Speed Two Ltd are consulting on the detail of the route itself. They are notifying local residents and businesses close the proposed route next week. The route does not pass through Acocks Green, coming into Birmingham, to the north of Hodge Hill, from a station near Birmingham International.

More information on the Government’s consultation is available at: http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk, hs2enquiries@hs2.gsi.gov.uk or by telephoning 020 7944 4908

Drop-in public exhibitions will be held by High Speed Two Ltd at:

• Hodge Hill Constituency Office car park, 8am to 8pm, Monday 23rd May;
• Birmingham  Museum  and Art Gallery, 8am to 8pm Friday 17th June, and
        9am to 5pm the following day.

The  Government’s  consultation  will run to 29th July this year, following which  a  decision  by  the  Secretary of State for Transport on whether to proceed with HS2 is expected at the end of 2011.

The City Council will be responding to the Government’s consultation. In order to inform this response it will be:

• Writing to residents and businesses close to the proposed route;
• Writing to stakeholders;
• Providing information and a feedback questionnaire at www.highspeed2westmidlands.co.uk (NB this site will not be operational until later in March);
• Producing  leaflets  with  questionnaire  which  will be available in public  buildings,  and  at  exhibitions  concerning  the City Centre Interchange project, organised by Centro in late March.
• Attending   Constituency  Committees  (Erdington,  Sutton  Coldfield, Ladywood  and  Hodge  Hill)  in March, and Ward Committees on request (dates tbc).