HS2 campaigners step up efforts to protect Warwickshire's wildlife - The Leamington Observer

HS2 campaigners step up efforts to protect Warwickshire's wildlife

Laura Kearns 31st Jan, 2020   0

HS2 protestors have stepped up efforts to stop the further destruction of wildlife.

Campaigners formed a blockade at each entrance of the compound on Welsh Road in Offchurch yesterday (Thursday).

When work later began, campaigners singing protest songs stormed the site to stop machinery working.

It comes just days after three people were arrested but released without charge after one lay on top of fencing and another clung on to it in a bid to stop contractors carrying their work.




Matthew Bishop, who founded a camp currently in Cubbington Woods, said: “Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be any choice left but to take direct action. We have grandmothers here, and working people stood next to the machinery.

“This is our message to the Conservative cabinet, we are asking you to stop HS2. Think about the environmental devastation and the massive cost to the people of Britain.


“We don’t want to stop people working productively but we don’t want the environmental destruction that is HS2. It does not benefit most of the ordinary people.”

A decision following a review into the controversial line, the cost of which has spiralled to around £106billion, is expected imminently.

But the BBC, which has seen a copy of the report, today reported the review advised against cancelling the line. It also claims calls for one section of the railway to be built to control costs would not be value for money.

HS2 declined to comment.

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