HS2 FOLLY

The flyer given out to the public stated:

• ‘It is the poster child of a dangerously unjust system.

• The government claims HS2 will better connect people, especially in the north of England, but communities in the north were never asked. Most want better local services, not another unaffordable trainline to London.

• The cost of the line is an estimated £106 bn (that we know of). That is over £3,300 per taxpayer.

• HS2 will not be carbon neutral in its 120-year life span. As we head towards the 6th global extinction, our actions in the Global North will disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous People of Colour, especially in the Global South.

• HS2 is an express delivery service for massive airport expansion. Birmingham Airport is already spending £500 million to expand, thanks to HS2.

• 108 Ancient woodlands including 300-year-old oak trees, 5 Wildlife refuges of international importance protected by UK law, 693 Classified Wildlife Sites, 21 Local Nature Reserves and 18 Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves will be impacted.

• Barn owls, nesting birds, stag beetles, rare butterflies, badgers and greater crested newts are also threatened.’

(Information from; stophs2.org StandforThe Trees.org rethinkhs2.org HS2rebellion.earth hs2facts.co.uk @bearwitness2019 (on Twitter) wildlifetrusts.org)

As an aside, Birmingham City Council now plans to abandon its agreed target of going carbon neutral by 2030 in favour of 2041. Its plans, such as they are, make no mention of curbing aviation or HS2.

Bob Whitehead