THE company developing the HS2 rail link has been told to pay thousands of pounds to a rural community for a “catalogue of errors” in dealing with their plea to be helped to stay together when their homes are demolished to make way for the new high-speed line.

An investigation by the Parliamentary Ombudsman found HS2 placed 
the six Staffordshire families under “severe stress and worry”, with a “huge” impact on their home lives, careers and health.

HS2 gave the “tight-knit” community false hope that they would be able to relocate their tiny hamlet, located not far from Lichfield, to a nearby site so they could continue living close to their existing neighbours.

During two years of drawing up proposals for how the move might work, the families received no feedback from the company, until it eventually became clear that they had no choice but to accept compensation and leave, said Ombudsman Julie Mellor.

It was not clear that the families’ proposals were ever considered, she said.
Ms Mellor called for HS2 to pay each of the families between £750 and £4,000 in compensation.

Demolition of the hamlet is due to begin in 2017.