Why the famous Taronis could still be derailed by HS2

A famed family firm which has built a reputation for turning scrap metal into cold hard cash could still be under threat of derailment from HS2.

H W Taroni (Metals) Ltd, based at the same site for 67 years, explained their concerns to Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP (Lab. Birmingham Hodge Hill) this week. Later in the week he met with HS2 to feed back the responses from the Taronis and other constituents affected.

Mr Byrne had visited the Taroni site to receive an update on how relocation from Aston Church Road, Birmingham, was progressing.

Nearly 30 jobs are still on the line, with the family still lacking certainty over when they will receive the money they need to complete their relocation to a new site.

“Businesses like H W Taroni can’t just pack up and move overnight,” said Mr Byrne. “Relocation of a firm like this requires a huge amount of planning and preparation to ensure it goes smoothly.”

The family has deep concerns about the time and money needed to undertake such an epic operation.

“It has caused us many sleepless nights,” explained Richard Taroni – the fourth generation to run the firm. We are now at a critical stage to secure our future – the homes over the heads of everyone employed here,” he added.

“Negotiations with HS2 going well"

“Negotiations with HS2 are going well, but we still don’t know if we will receive the cash we need on time to get this over the line.”

Mr Byrne said: “Even a successful, long-standing family business like H W Taroni has been struggling for many years now to deal with the implications of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) from HS2 . They care simply about protecting their livelihoods, but cashflow is the lifeblood of every organisation.

“I certainly have concerns about how difficult the situation is – for not just the Taronis, but more widely with major infrastructure schemes like HS2.”

Christopher E. Ives, managing partner of HG & Co Consultants and advisor to H W Taroni, said: “H W Taroni has always understood that HS2 is necessary in the interests of our national infrastructure.

“However, in their case, the challenges are particularly complex with unpicking and relocating such a highly integrated operation. This involves complex planning and licensing issues and will require a phased relocation, which inherently necessitates a period in which two sites are forced to operate simultaneously.

“Businesses such as H W Taroni need to be better supported by the CPO legislative framework.”