COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A building in Kenilworth will become the national headquarters of a campaign against the high speed HS2 railway line after councillors decided to let them use it for free.



Warwickshire County Council is allowing Stop HS2 to set up shop rent-free in Kenilworth town centre in what they admit is a “complete one-off”.

The group has spent weeks carrying out improvements on their new base and will begin co-ordinating its campaign from the Warwick Road premises in the coming weeks.

The council – which voted unanimously to oppose the controversial high speed rail line between London and Birmingham – insisted it was not “policy” to let groups use its buildings for free and would probably never happen again.

Warwickshire County Council released a statement from Councillor Colin Hayfield, portfolio holder for physical assets.

The statement said the council planned to eventually sell the building.

Coun Hayfield said: “One of the downsides of vacated buildings is the risk of vandalism or theft and the presence of this group protects us from that, without our incurring any added costs as they are paying all utilities bills.

“It is not county council policy to let external groups use our buildings but in this instance, which owing to the circumstances is a one-off situation, there is a benefit to both parties.”

Joe Rukin, founder of Stop HS2 and chairman of Kenilworth Action Group, said: “The building is a mess and will be got into shape by an army of volunteers.

“Everything that goes into the building we’ll get as a result of begging.

“Just last week I was building a concrete step so I could weld in the fire escape we bought on Ebay.

"It’s a world away from the plush offices the Yes campaign sit in, funded by big business, while they dream up ways of ignoring the facts about this fast train for fat cats.”

‘Appalled’ at eviction notice


Tim Robottom ( brink artist),Joe Rukin and Richard Morris (HS2 team members).

AN UGLY and empty site on Kenilworth’s main road is what will replace the current STOP HS2 headquarters if demolition plans go ahead.

This is according to county councillor John Whitehouse (Lib dem, Abbey) who said he is “appalled” by a decision to evict the STOP HS2 group and BRINK from the Warwickshire County Council owned buildings on 129-131 Warwick Road.

It was agreed that Joe Rukin and his team could move into the premises last year as they were not being used. The county council bought them to relocate Buildbase so it could build a new Kenilworth Railway Station in Station Road. Due to funding and planning issues these plans are still on hold and it is costing the county council around £28,000 a year to keep the Warwick Road buildings standing, so it now wants to spend £100,000 to demolish them and erect a two metre high brick wall around the site until planning permission is given for Buildbase to move.

County councillor John Whitehouse (Lib dem, Abbey) said: “I am appalled at the way this decision has been announced without any further discussion with interested parties. Nothing has changed materially since the decision last year to let Stop HS2 occupy the buildings. Having an ugly empty site on Kenilworth’s main road for possibly several years will not be welcomed by Kenilworth’s businesses and residents.”

As well as the STOP HS2 group, BRINK has also been using the building and hoped to establish an art gallery in there. A petition with more than 100 signatures has been collected to support these plans.

However the eviction letter has been issued and the decision to do this was taken by county councillor Alan Cockburn (Con, St Johns) in his role as cabinet member. He said: “The only way to defray the business rate costs are by demolishing the buildings. I helped facilitate STOP HS2 moving into Warwick Road last year because I was told the costs would be minimal and it would help with site security. However, in light of the new estimated cost to the county council, I feel it is an inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money and if allowed to continue, would encourage every other pressure group across the county to ask for similar treatment.

“Current plans involve the county council levelling the Warwick Road site anyway.

“Also the offices there need considerable expenditure if they were to stay, as the flat roof is in poor condition.

“Therefore, although the county council is against HS2, I agree that STOP HS2 should move out.”