HS2 slammed by protestors for being "shamelessley opportunistic" after work in Cubbington and Kenilworth woodland continues over Easter weekend despite Covid-19 pandemic

Formal approval has today (Wednesday April 15) been given by the Government for 'Phase One' of the construction work on the HS2 rail project to begin despite lockdown measures.

Following Boris Johnson's announcement in February that the project would go ahead, HS2 minister Andrew Stephenson has today said: “This next step provides thousands of construction workers and businesses across the country with certainty at a time when they need it, and means that work can truly begin."

Preparatory work for the line has been going on for months with greenery in Cubbington, Broadwells and Crackley Woods being removed along with woodland in Long Itchington.

And campaigners have contacted The Courier and Kenilworth Weekly News to raise concerns about work taking place over the Easter weekend and workers not sticking to the social distancing guidelines.

Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin, from Kenilworth, who has been heavily involved with the protests in Crackley and Cubbington woods and nationally has said: "Issuing HS2 with ‘notice to proceed’ at a time when there is next to no scrutiny taking place is not only shamelessly opportunistic, but it is pretending that coronavirus isn’t happening, and that it will not change the world.

"It is absolutely clear that one of the lasting impacts of coronavirus will be to reduce the need for long-distance travel in the future, so HS2 Ltd has decided to ignore this completely because taking account of what is happening right now in the real world would absolutely destroy the already made up case for HS2 and derail their gravy train.

"Committing billions of pounds to a white elephant to protect a handful of construction companies will absolutely come back to bite the Government because when the dust settles following the current crisis hundreds if not thousands of well-run firms will go to the wall for lack of funding which the Government has squandered on HS2.”

“The decision today comes as no surprise, as over the last couple of months those working for HS2 have seen coronavirus as an opportunity, with consultants allegedly jacking up process, contractors blatantly ignoring social distancing rules, and men with chainsaws illegally destroying habitats, safe in the knowledge that Natural England have pulled back front line staff, and members of the public are not around to be able to report wildlife crimes.

"HS2 is a project that comes at too great a cost to our wildlife, that ignores the ongoing climate emergency, and we are certain there will be a legal challenge to this decision.”

In response to protestors' concerns, HS2 Ltd has said“Some of the UK’s most experienced and leading ecological consultants have worked on the route’s development.

"We have professionally qualified environmental staff on site during the works operations, and have consent from the authorised bodies, including Natural England, for all planned work.

“It is climate change that poses the biggest threat to the environment in the UK.

"Once HS2 is in operation it will be seven times greener than travelling by car and 17 times greener than domestic air travel.

"We’d urge environmental groups to help us in getting people out of their cars, off planes and onto low-carbon, high-speed rail.”

In his fortnightly column, which will be published in print in the Kenilworth Weekly News and The Courier on Friday (April 17), Kenilworth and Southam MP Jeremy Wright has spoken at length about the current situation with HS2.

He says: "HS2 has survived legal challenges, against its continuation generally and against work in ancient woodlands specifically.

"There is, therefore, no reason to believe HS2 will not now be built."