HS2 Update – February 2020
Environmental concerns
I’ve been talking to the local Environmental Protesters. Expect activity to grow and to become noticeable in Wendover. The environmental consequences of HS2 are profoundly destructive and will be a scar across the Vale for generations to come. As usual HS2 Ltd are downplaying the damage and trying to make out that they’re building a green paradise railroad. Not much is green about a Bentonite factory in the AONB. Nothing is paradisical about a 16m high ready mix concrete plant nor its output either. Luckily people are seeing through the HS2 nonsense and the truth will out.
It appears that there is some strong support for direct action in the local community. The WPC working group has asked for regular meetings with the activists’ leadership. This represents a third strand of objection to HS2 and we try to keep in touch with all of them. The WPC has not condoned or encouraged this action. It has not been discussed in council yet.
My view, for what it’s worth, is that this activism is an inevitable consequence of the County and District Councils making no attempt to reflect the wishes of the electorate when it comes to HS2. No attempt to communicate with the people affected and no effective attempt to explain their council’s position to their electorate.
Political pressure
New local MP Rob Butler has been active in the HS2 arena. I’m hoping to fix up a meeting with him soon. His recent letter to the Chancellor can be seen at https://wendovernews.co.uk/news/60091/.
More effort required?
The Leader of Bucks CC, Martin Tett, recognises in his Christmas Message that the biggest challenge to be faced is HS2. The biggest challenges need the biggest effort and perhaps the unitary authority will try harder. It’s a shame that so far BCC support for Wendover’s mined tunnel alternative scheme has been less than ulsome. Even when it’s the sustainability of the road network that is threatened by HS2’s inconvenient viaduct.
Quo Vadis HS2?
The Oakervee Report still hasn’t emerged but Lord Berkeley has started his challenge to it. His dissenting report https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A8e9c 8f87-2650-4aa0-8e0f-0eaf6e709640 is quite scathing about it and many of the news networks have picked up on his findings. I look forward to reading Oakervee when his government backed report is finally released.
An opportunity to do some good.
I’ve not had a response to my proposal that HS2/EK cover the cost of moving the Memorial Wood. We haven’t heard from AVDC about using Walnut Tree Meadow as an alternate memorial site either, but we plough on.
Tom Walsh,
Chair, Wendover Parish Council