Warwickshire County Council recently announced plans to reduce the annual intake at Water Orton Primary School from 45 pupils to 30 by 2027, reflecting a noticeable drop in student numbers. North Warwickshire and Bedworth Labour MP Rachel Taylor attributes this decrease directly to the ongoing disruption caused by the HS2 project, stating that families are moving away from the village as a result.
Residents of Water Orton hold mixed views about the reasons behind the school’s shrinking attendance. Felicitas Freeman, who lives near the HS2 construction site on Attleboro Lane, acknowledges multiple factors but emphasizes the impact of HS2. “It can’t be denied that people are moving away from the village and properties are taking longer to sell,” Freeman explained, highlighting the persistent dust, noise, and unpleasant odors disrupting daily life.
Local parent Helen Carlill echoed this sentiment, sharing that proximity to Water Orton Primary is her main reason for staying put. “The only reason I’m still here is because the school is within walking distance for my children,” she said, adding that many neighbors are struggling to sell their homes due to the ongoing construction disturbances.
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Conversely, some residents remain skeptical. Gill Smith, who has a grandson at the school, questioned claims of population decline. “I have never heard of people moving out of the village,” Smith remarked, noting that children travel from surrounding areas, such as Castle Bromwich, to attend Water Orton Primary.
Labour MP Rachel Taylor emphasized the broader impact on the community: “The proposal to reduce pupil numbers highlights the damage HS2 is inflicting here. Families are leaving, and others are deterred from moving in because of severe disruption including dust, foul odors, and traffic problems. I continue to lobby HS2 for stronger measures to mitigate these harms and secure better support for local residents.”
In response, HS2 Ltd stated they are committed to minimizing disruption and maintaining communication with the Water Orton community. Their Chief Executive, Mark Wild, recently met with residents and MP Taylor to address concerns. The spokesperson highlighted that HS2 funded the rebuilding of Water Orton Primary School in 2020 and has invested in road repairs and dedicated construction traffic routes to reduce local impact.
Regarding complaints about odors, HS2 clarified that the smell is linked to lime stabilization of excavated material, a common, non-hazardous construction process. They have completed excavation of the Bromford tunnels and are actively working to reduce odor from material stockpiles.
Despite these assurances, the community continues to grapple with the effects of HS2, watching their school and village face uncertain changes as the project progresses.