Following months of speaking with residents in Coleshill and Water Orton and advocating for them to HS2 to get complaints resolved, Rachel has written to HS2 to demand changes to the way complaints are dealt with when raised by residents. In a lengthy letter to HS2, she said she believed “residents who are impacted by construction works do not have recourse to a fair and just process by which to be compensated or for the impact on them to be effectively mitigated”.

Rachel is calling for HS2 to:

• Communicate to claimants against HS2 of damages to property that an independent expert survey of their damage would allow for a more balanced review of their case by the Independent Construction Commissioner.
• Arrange for a collective independent survey to be carried out for the damage to the properties on Attleboro Lane that have made claims against HS2.
• Expedite the time taken to process special cases and mitigating actions for residents being impacted by construction works.
• Have a clear and transparent process in place for the advocacy scheme to ensure it is being utilised appropriately.
• Make all information on claims and complaints processes clearer and readily available to residents.
• Treat any correspondence received from residents highlighting problems or adverse impacts from HS2 works as a complaint.

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Read Rachel’s full letter to HS2 demanding action: