The government has announced that construction of certain sections of HS2 high speed railway line will be delayed in “an attempt to cut costs”.
The decision impacts sections from Manchester - Crewe as well as Birmingham – Crewe, major parts of the scheme, which should see ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity and a ‘net gain’ in biodiversity respectively.
Nikki Williams, director of campaigning and communities at The Wildlife Trusts, says: “HS2 has been plagued by problems from the start, especially the devastating impact on nature and evidence of inaccuracies in calculating how wild places are affected, combined with serious doubts over the projects’ ability to effectively make up for that loss.
“We have been calling for a pause so HS2 Ltd can revisit its figures and ensure it will provide sufficient compensation for nature loss along the route.
“New plans to delay because of spiralling costs provides an opportunity Government must take to ensure HS2 fulfils stated commitments around ‘No Net Loss' of biodiversity along Phase 1 and Phase 2A of the route, and ‘Biodiversity net gain' along Phase 2B.”
“Over 78,00 people have already signed our open letter demanding urgent action to ensure the errors HS2 Ltd has made that have been revealed in our report are urgently resolved.
“It’s critical that any delays to the scheme involve a rethink around the levels of loss, and impacts on nature.”
Michael Fabricant, Conservative MP for Lichfield, said communities deserved answers on what such delays would mean.
“I shall be asking the Government whether this marks the end of HS2 north of Birmingham for good and whether HS2 will make good the damage already done in southern Staffordshire including to my Lichfield constituency.
“Simply saying the project is delayed is not good enough. The area has been blighted by whole fields turned into construction sites.
“Anyone driving along the A38 between Birmingham and Burton can see for themselves the work going on near the city of Lichfield. Will these sites now be abandoned or completed?
“If they are to be abandoned, will there be remedial work to restore the countryside? And what of compensation for my constituents who have had their lives and businesses wrecked by the construction work?”
