A Kenilworth councillor is asking for more transparency from the town's MP over meetings with HS2 ltd.

MP for Kenilworth and Southam Jeremy Wright hosts regular meetings with Warwickshire County Council and the high speed rail developers to keep informed on the local works.

But town and district councillor Cllr Richard Dickson has called on the former Attorney General to publish the minutes of these meetings and include residents in the conversation.

"What's happening with HS2 in our area," said Cllr Dickson.

"It's good that, apparently, our MP hosts regular meetings with HS2 and its major contractors - presumably these provide a useful opportunity for those involved to share information.

"However no minutes of the meetings are published and advance notice of the meetings is not made available either.

"Why the secrecy?"

Kenilworth Town Council also hosts regular briefings with HS2 contractors Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) and presents the discussion points at each full council meeting.

But Cllr Dickson has asked why Mr Wright cannot do the same.

"It's accepted that there may be some matters that are discussed in the meetings that are commercially sensitive," he added.

"But if there's to be any measure of trust about what's going on surely the minutes should be published and advance notice of the meetings provided so that constituents can send in any questions/issues to be raised?

"And, now that Covid restrictions are being lifted, it's time a schedule of public community engagement events in our area was published too."

Jeremy Wright's Response

Responding to the comments Mr Wright said to Nub News that no formal minutes of the meetings were taken, and that residents were not invited as this might deter BBV and HS2 from divulging certain details regarding the works.

"Local representatives and councillors attend the forum," he said.

"There are no formal minutes taken, a note is shared with all members of the forum after the meetings.

"By agreement with forum members when it was established, the forum is not a public meeting because we want HS2 Ltd, its contractors and any other agencies to feel comfortable sharing what would otherwise be confidential information at the forum.

"The notes of the meetings are therefore not published."

For more information on local HS2 works see our winter update here.

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