Couple whose home is set for demolition to make way for HS2 launch Crowd Justice campaign

They say their campaign is aimed at securing a true, open market price for their family home, which is due for demolition to make way for the Crewe to Manchester spur of HS2.

Trevor and Justine, from Tabley, told the Guardian they had been involved in a seven-year dispute with HS2 over the purchase of their ‘blighted’ property.

The family was planning to move home in 2012, but said following HS2’s announcement by the Government in January 2013 their house became ‘blighted’ as it was within 80 metres of the original route of this section of HS2, Phase 2B.

They said since HS2 was first announced they had suffered years of stress and anxiety, which had affected family life and had impacted on their businesses.

In January 2018 Trevor suffered a breakdown, which he attributes to their ongoing battle, but he was unable to take any time off.

He said: “I had to work through some very dark days because we could not afford for either of us not to work.

“I know this affected my ability to work, and it caused problems for a number of important clients.”

Justine, a business consultant, said: “It is shameful it has taken seven years jumping through HS2’s compensation hoops, and we are no further forward.

“We still have a property we cannot sell, we cannot re-mortgage, and if we did want to make any changes we would have to get the permission of Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport.

“But this case isn’t just about compensation, it’s about the toll this long-running battle has had on family life, and the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of everyone whose lives have been affected by HS2.

“We now have a team that is supporting us and guiding us through the maze, but many are not so lucky, and once we have settled our case we want to do all we can to help others whose lives have been similarly blighted at the hands of HS2.”

The Palins said they applied in 2015 for compensation under HS2’s Exceptional Hardship Scheme, and the Government undertook to buy blighted properties or pay a lump sum if the properties were close to HS2.

They said their application was rejected for a number of reasons, the main issue being they hadn’t tried to sell their house, even though the property had been unsellable since 2013 and any marketing activity would have been futile.

Phase 2B’s route was revised in 2016, which the couple said would now go through their kitchen.

The house became eligible to be compulsory purchased, and they said the initial offer from HS2 was only £30,000 more than they paid when they bought the property in 2007.

They said HS2’s own guidelines clearly stated such properties would be paid the open market (‘unblighted’) value plus 10 per cent, and the ‘impasse’ with HS2 had left them with no choice but to go to court so they could end years of stress and turmoil and get on with their lives.

The link to the couple’s Crowd Justice fundraising site is

crowdjustice.com/case/holding-hs2-to-account/ - the site has raised £2,415 towards the £5,000 target.

An HS2 spokesman said: “We recognise that every situation is unique and have set up a package of property assistance schemes, including compensation measures to assist people who are directly impacted by the railway.

"There are no compulsory purchase notices on any properties on the Phase Two route.

"We have been in discussions with the Palins since 2017 regarding the valuation of their property, to reach a fair and amicable agreement.

"We are committed to paying fair and reasonable compensation to all affected parties, as well as seeking a fair deal for the taxpayer.”