HS2: Stories Behind The Line: The town HS2 split into two

Kenilworth Castle (Credit: Jdforreste)

After years of uncertainty and small route changes, the town of Kenilworth comes to terms with the arrival of a major national rail project.

The Warwickshire market town of Kenilworth prides itself on a bustling high street decorated with colourful hanging baskets swaying above cafe doors, along with the picturesque castle surrounded by rolling hillsides and greenery. The town lies five miles south of Coventry, with a population of around 24,000 people, it holds a special community spirit and is surrounded by various English villages. Kenilworth is no stranger to transport connections, with close proximity to the M6, M42 and Birmingham Airport. High Speed 2 is the latest transport link to face the town.

"It is a great little town." Ananda Roy

HS2 has not only divided the town physically, it has also divided opinion amongst the community, with various meetings taking place over the years between residents and HS2 executives. Due to its rurality, homes and villages are spread over a large area, leaving some more affected by the route than others.

"It's been horrific, but it's going to get a lot worse." Vikie Shanks

Vikie Shanks and her family live on the country road Crackley Lane. The journey to the house takes you northwards from the town centre, past the local tennis club and alongside Crackley Woods. Vikie has found herself and her family in financial difficulty due to the project. Vikie has lived in the house for 34 years and is unable to move.

Initially in 2010, she found out that the line would run right through her home, but a change in the route meant that HS2 only require a section of her land of around four acres. This means that Vikie is only entitled to compensation for that amount of land. Due to this, she finds herself unable to afford a new home. She said: "I couldn't sell the house for enough to cover the mortgage.

"The children have never known any other home." she said. The home itself holds memories in it's walls which the family treasure. An expansive garden that has allowed the children to roam and discover over the years, will now partly be destroyed. The disruption from tree removal has already begun around the home. She said: "It's around one hundred yards from the house, so it's very intrusive.

"It's been horrific but it's going to get a lot worse,” she said. Vikie continues to work with the government and HS2 to try and raise the amount of compensation being given to her for the land that has been taken.

Aerial footage of the proposed route through Kenilworth (Credit: Michael Warner)

Strategy Director, Ananda Roy has lived in Kenilworth for fifteen years. "It is a great little town with some lovely people,” he said. Mr Roy spoke of how the residents have pulled together during the current Coronavirus pandemic. He explained: "the town has come together in amazing ways with a volunteer army of over 250 residents working together to support the old, poor, disposed residents that need help during the lock down".

Ananda first found out that the route would travel through the Kenilworth area in 2013, and has since followed the plans as they were debated, attending numerous resident meetings and finalised via community consultation. When it comes to the views of the majority of Kenilworth residents, Ananda feels that the overall mood is neutral. "I would argue that the largest proportion of people are neutral,” he said.

The route will not affect his life directly other than the temporary road closures delaying his commute by ten minutes. After initially being against HS2, Mr Roy has spent time examining documentation and looking into the detail which has changed his views on the project as a whole. He said: "being able to give young people a career when they finish university or college is fantastic."

Mr Roy states that the loudest voices in the HS2 debate around the community are a group of around 500 activists, however he says: "regrettably as they have abused using fact based arguments and balance, they have lost the argument, be it influence or goodwill, and now largely talk to themselves which is a great shame.”

Ananda believes that instead of protesting against a decision which has already been made, the community should come together to work out ways of lobbying HS2 Ltd, to mitigate the negative impacts on the community.

The small villages and areas which surround Kenilworth are home to elderly and retired people who have found themselves embroiled in their own HS2 story. Jan and Richard Kenyon lived just outside the town centre. They found out in 2010 that the route would pass 104 metres from their house and for three and half years wondered how they would be able to sell or get compensation.

Mr Kenyon said: “We at that time were in our late seventies and with all that work going on, we were going to have to sell." The couple had lived there just under 30 years before the announcement came. "My mother in law who lived with us had been in house since 1940, and my wife moved there when she was one." Richard said.

Mr Kenyon was forced to write to his MP after HS2 were slow to continue with the process, but after a swift response they then entered negotiations and agreed a figure. Richard explained: "I have to say, I think we got a reasonable deal.

"We are the very few beneficiaries of HS2, at our age it was time to move into town," Richard said.

It's clear to see the deep anxiety the route has caused some people who have had to move home or are in difficulties moving. HS2 is often only recognised as a national project, but the cases such as Kenilworth provide an example of how such a large scale issue can dramatically affect individuals and communities at a local level. This market town is one of many home to thousands of people who have had their lives changed by the train line, for the better or for the worse.