Member Article

IoD is right to call for scrapping of HS2, says Comtek CEO

The Institute of Directors (IoD) has this morning called for the Government to abandon plans for HS2, with the organisation’s director general, Simon Walker, describing the project as ‘one grand folly’.

Following a survey of its 38,000 members it has revealed that the majority would prefer to see smaller infrastructure projects instead of the controversial high-speed rail link.

Askar Sheibani, CEO of IT and telecoms repair company Comtek, chairman of the Deeside Industrial Park, and Entrepreneurship Champion for Wales, offers the following comments on the news: “The IoD’s conclusions on HS2 are completely sound and aligned with those of the businesses operating in our community. The proposed HS2 rail link is fundamentally a waste of money, and funds would be better spent on more localised, smaller upgrades.

“With spiralling costs and little agreement on the ultimate size of the final massive bill (the Government says £50.1bn; the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank predicts as much as £80bn), the Government must put a stop to this inexplicable and irresponsible waste of resources. It has ploughed money into this programme which has yet to benefit anyone other than contractors, and served only to drive funds away from the localities where such an investment could make a real difference to local businesses.

“Rather than focusing on high profile upgrades like HS2, the Government needs to be listening to the communities it seeks to enhance. Local communities need improvements to the local rail infrastructure that will allow them to boost revenue prospects and open up job opportunities for the local workforce. In some areas, simple upgrades or electrifications, such as the Wrexham to Liverpool rail modernisation, would bring instant economic benefit to the local communities.

“HS2 is currently draining the localities of potential investment and if the Government really wants to see economic development across the whole country, it needs to take hold of the reins and shift resources.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Comtek .