Published: 17 October 2012

By TOM FOOT

PLEAS from a secondary school for the government not to build a giant railway next to its playground were lost in a computer bungle, the body running the scheme have admitted.

Hs2 Ltd wrote to Camden Council this week confirming a “processing error” had meant responses to its consultation from Maria Fidelis RC Secondary School were missed.

Officials from the Government-funded quango responsible for a £33 billion scheme admitted: “Several individual responses from staff and other representatives of Maria Fidelis Convent School were affected.”

According to a council report, pupils would face daily "vibration, dust and traffic" that would "significantly diminish the suitability of the learning environment". There would also be a loss of play space if the St James's Gardens public park is transformed into railway tracks under the £33 billion scheme. The works could last for up to 8 years.

Hs2 Ltd said it had lost only responses to its consultation online and specifically on the proposed route and that responses had now been analysed despite the consultation ending and the project getting the go-ahead earlier this year.

Officials said Hs2 shared a “common aspiration” with Camden Council to move Maria Fidelis pupils onto a single site in Phoenix Road, Somers Town.

But council leader Cllr Sarah Hayward said they had only been discussing alternative sites in the event that the "worst happened" and Hs2 went ahead.

She added: “It is very disappointing that HS2 have only just admitted to losing these important consultation responses from Maria Fidelis Convent School.

“This site will be blighted for years – disrupting children’s education and causing uncertainty for their families."