This afternoon, I met with Mark Wild to discuss the impact of HS2 on Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner. Mark has been Chief Executive of HS2 since December 2024 and has been tasked with the delivery of the railway.
Residents will know that I have been a vocal critic of the project going back to my time in local government. It has long been clear that the disruptive route chosen for HS2 would impact many of my constituents, especially those in Harefield and around West Ruislip. With the majority of local work now complete, it was an interesting time to meet the Chief Executive of HS2 as he looks towards the next stages of the project.
While we are not likely to see railway track laid across the Colne Valley Viaduct or at West Ruislip until the end of this decade, the impact of the railway’s construction will continue. I was pleased to have the opportunity to raise the future of the Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre (HOAC), which has now been closed for over six years, an issue I spoke about in Parliament last month. Mark was quick to assure me that funding exists to secure the centre's future, and I was pleased to facilitate a further meeting between HOAC and HS2 to discuss what bridging support might be available to them.
