Following a recent announcement by the Select Committee about the proposed schedule, we can confirm some details with you:
The committee programme: The Committee will start on 1 July, sit until 22 July and then return in September. The week 1 to 4 programme is now available here Timetable for Weeks 1 to 4
The opening days are intended to provide a non-contentious factual introduction to the route.
Anyone who disagrees with anything said will be able to draw it to the attention of the Committee. There will be presentations by the promoters on noise and compensation. As can be seen, the noise presentation will be on 8 July. Compensation will be dealt with in September.
Locus standi cases, where HS2 Ltd are challenging a petitioners right to petition the Committee, will happen in July. A locus standi challenge will occur when HS2 Ltd don’t believe the petitioner will be directly affected by the line (e.g. they’re too far away from HS2) or that the petition covers issues it shouldn’t (e.g. if someone petitioned to get the whole scheme scrapped). It is possible to have only parts of a petition challenged, but these challenges are more likely to occur when the petitioner is called to give evidence to the Committee. Any petitioner who is subject to a locus standi challenge will have the right to argue their case, explain why they should be allowed to petition, to the Committee.
The compensation issues to be heard from September onwards, the Committee have stated that the schedule to be published next month.
The Committee has decided to begin hearing petitions geographically, starting with Birmingham Curzon Street and moving broadly from north to south. The Committee remain open to submissions on when to schedule petitions from Staffordshire and Handsacre.
David Walker of Winckworth Sherwood (the promoters’ agents) will provide petitioners with details of points of contact at HS2 Ltd for petitioners within each Parliamentary constituency. David Walker will also handle programming. The Committee will expect to receive confirmation from him that he will act impartially. Points of contention about the programme will be reserved for the Committee to consider.
Giving evidence: Petitioners to have four weeks’ notice before they will be heard and are expected to make themselves available on that date. However allowances can be made for disabilities and extenuating circumstances. You can read more about giving evidence here Guide for Petitioners
Petition Response Documents: The Committee strongly urges the promoters to offer alternative methods of sending them where a petitioner does not wish to use the proposed secure web based system; for example by post or email. The PRDs should contain a full and fair summary of the response to the petition
Evidence: Any evidence to be produced (by which we take it to mean exhibits to be handed to the committee) must be exchanged at least 2 working days before the appearance in Committee.
The committee will not sit outside London as a general rule, but will make site visits (note that a visit to Birmingham and Lichfield is planned on 15 July). Petitioners can be present, subject to any physical constraints