HS2’s catalogue of errors like a runaway train

HS2’s catalogue of errors like a runaway train - Woodland Trust

HS2 Ltd. is continuing to fail the environment with a catalogue of errors growing longer all the time says the Woodland Trust.

As the Court of Appeal deliberates on Chris Packham’s request for a judicial review of the Government’s decision to green light the project, the Trust has issued a list of some of HS2 Ltd’s biggest failings around ancient woodland so far. It says there needs to be a real step change, not just on the current Phase 1 from London to Birmingham where ancient woodland has already been chopped down during the lockdown, but also on Phases 2a and 2b to Crewe, Manchester and Leeds where there is still time to do the right thing.

Luci Ryan, lead policy adviser for infrastructure at the charity said: “HS2’s catalogue of errors is growing ever bigger. It’s like a runaway train, gathering momentum and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. One mistake invariably leads to another and one of the biggest losers is ancient woodland and the wildlife that relies on it for survival.”

Among failings relating to ancient woodland, wildlife and its own processes, HS2 Ltd has:

Broken four assurances - commitments made between the Secretary of State, HS2 and the Woodland Trust under the Hybrid Bill Process. These include:

failing to engage with the Trust in reasonable time ahead of any work adjacent to or within 100m of ancient woodland;
failing to have regard to the guidance in Natural England’s advice on avoiding damage to, or loss of, ancient woodland or ancient and veteran trees and for compensation for any unavoidable loss;
failing to ensure that there are no construction works within a certain part of Newyear’s Green Covert in Hillingdon;
failing to consult with the Trust in respect of any construction activities undertaken within, or within 100m of, an area of Ancient Woodland.