‘Devastation and chaos’ caused by HS2 sparking ‘open hostility’
Warwickshire communities directly affected by the construction of HS2[1] say the scheme's rising costs and environmental impact are causing 'open hostility'. Huge swathes of Warwickshire[2] countryside have been turned into building sites to facilitate the 140-mile long Phase 1 of the project, linking London Euston with two stations in the West Midlands.
Construction is reportedly moving towards its peak, resulting in ever more road closures, interference with natural habitats and day-to-day disruption for people who live and work close to the high-speed rail line. While the line seeks to better connect the country via faster journeys, its neighbours have already faced years of upheaval and inconvenience.
And some are forecasting another decade of pain with the Phase 1 completion target set at 2029 to 2033. The Department for Transport says it is committed to minimising disruption, adding that passengers and communities alike are set to benefit for years to come.
In the meantime, the project's latest price tag has grown from the £33bn outlined in 2010 to at least £71bn. Earlier this year, Transport Secretary Mark Harper announced the Birmingham to Crewe stretch (Phase 2a) would be delayed by two years due to higher inflation, which some in the rail industry warned would further increase costs.
The BBC[4] has been out to gauge the opinions of residents, small businesses and volunteer groups along the controversial route[5] in Warwickshire and Solihull. The broadcaster started by speaking to people in Southam about HS2 itself and the ongoing traffic impact.
The track's southern section at Southam includes two viaducts in the Radbourne area and enters a mile-long tunnel underneath Long Itchington Wood[6], a couple of miles away. Long Itchington Wood Tunnel, the first to be completed on the entire project, is set to feature on BBC 2 show Great British Railway Journeys[7].
The huge 9.6m wide tunnel being dug under Long Itchington Wood as part of the HS2 project (Image: Paul Suart)
Groom and Gents Barbers owner Mustafa Karakaya said he remained in two minds about the project. "The construction traffic and closures outside Southam have been problematic - in case of emergency it takes time for ambulances to arrive," he told the BBC, "There have been issues there.
"But I believe in the future HS2 will bring benefits for the country, for connecting bigger cities like Birmingham and London." Tony Bromwich, an independent councillor who represents Southam West for Stratford District Council, said his inbox was full of people complaining about the spiralling cost of the project.
"They're saying it's a white elephant which benefits only those travelling to London and saving them 20 minutes. People think the money could be better spent elsewhere.
"There's also a lot of open hostility to the disruption the construction is causing." In Burton Green, near Kenilworth[8], a parent and child "stay and play" session has launched at the new village hall which opened in March after HS2 provided £2 million funding.
A number of road and rail closures will take place in the coming months for HS2 works across Warwickshire
It was built near a greenway where a portal for a 700m rail tunnel is being constructed. Locals have been told that within a decade the tunnel will be covered in trees and plants. A green canopy, "sensitively" built into the landscape, it is one of the 119 new wildlife sites that have already been created by HS2.
However, as parents were enjoying quality playtime with their toddlers, many said they felt conflicted about the merits of Britain's biggest rail project. "It's a lovely facility, it's nice and airy and beautiful," said parent Chloe Wan on her first visit to the new hall.
"But it's a real shame that so much has been taken from the communities that it has disrupted. Taking minutes off a train journey is not worth the devastation it's had to the environment."
Another attendee, Adam Zielski, a grandfather, said he was not convinced of the wider benefits of HS2. "I think it's a vast amount of money that's been spent that could have been spent better elsewhere.
"It's affected us - when we want to travel around there have been road closures and noise disruption." More than 30 homes were bought by HS2 in Burton Green, according to village hall trustee Paddy Deeley.
Part of the M42 was completely closed in December 2022 to allow for the installation of a HS2 bridge
"The fights and protests against HS2 have been going on for a long time," she said. "It's not going away so yes, there is that conflict. I think most people would have said 'given the choice, we would not have had HS2 - but we have.
"[For us] it was a case of mitigating the effects and getting the best hall that we could." Ria Burgoine told the BBC her Mama's Mindfulness sessions had become more popular since they started using the venue.
"It's certainly brought a new dynamic to the session, having amazing social media photos, being able to showcase such a beautiful hall," she explained. "It's brought more people here from far and wide."
Family-run Lavender Hall Fishery at Berkswell, Solihull[9], was a serene haven for anglers before the drone of drills and rumbling trucks punctured the silence. Close to the site high-speed trains will pass along the Balsall Common viaduct, around 10 metres above ground level, taking out a section of fishing lake on the property's perimeter.
"In terms of noise, it's bad enough now with the construction work and it's going to get worse," said angler Mark Luckett. "It's killing everything off and who is going to gain out of HS2? I'm not.
"All it's going to do is to make it easier for the rich and the wealthy to get down to London a bit quicker." HS2 said the landscape design for the viaduct aimed to minimise the impact on the landscape, on local ecology and on views of the countryside. It said the viaduct would be enjoyed by people and enhance existing habitats.
Balsall Common Viaduct newest CGI (Image: HS2)
Fishery bosses have been preparing for life after the route arrives. Once realised, a haven of five lakes will effectively sit between HS2 and an existing Network Rail line.
"The one positive for us," said manager Tom Lawrie, "has been our café on site - the amount of business we get now from HS2 workers has been great.
"But the negatives remain: How close it is, the noise, the visual impact. Some days you don't really notice it too much, then other days they are really quite noisy."
He added: "I think for a country of our size with the existing rail network, we could have probably upgraded that and spent the money elsewhere." The approach of peak construction is arguably a defining moment for the project.
CEO of HS2 Mark Thurston has announced he will step down from the role in September as the scheme moves into a new phase for the installation of track and signalling equipment. Earlier this month MPs urged ministers to "finally establish" what their plans were for Euston.
File photo dated 01/12/22 of HS2 CEO Mark Thurston viewing a one-mile section of the first completed tunnel under ancient woodland near Southam, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, for the HS2 project. Mr Thurston has announced his resignation amid major delays and cost pressures for the high-speed railway project. Mr Thurston, 56, will leave his role in September after six-and-a-half years leading the Government-owned company. Issue date: Wednesday July 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story RAIL HS2. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire (Image: PA)
Connectivity with the central London station is the final leg in the south, but the government paused that work due to rising costs. Even so, major construction is currently taking place at more than 350 sites between London and the West Midlands in a project that employs 28,500 people across the country.
The Department for Transport said: "The construction of HS2 will bring transformational benefits to passengers and communities for generations to come. We recognise the impact that some residents may be facing and are committed to minimising disruption as much as possible."
"Local impacts are unavoidable on a project this scale, and with construction reaching its peak these impacts will be felt more than ever. Nonetheless, communities remain at the heart of HS2's delivery plans."
It also said it would continue to consult on the construction and took monitoring of the work seriously. HS2 Ltd, the company delivering the line, told the BBC[10]: "We are committed to minimising impacts on local communities wherever possible and we work hard to reduce disruption during the construction of HS2."
It said that included creating temporary internal access roads to get heavy vehicles on to site, using freight trains to deliver materials, and conveyors to remove spoil, which helps to take lorries off local roads.
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References
- ^ HS2 (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ Warwickshire (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ Desperate plea made in fight to save Coventry Stadium (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ BBC (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ gauge the opinions of residents, small businesses and volunteer groups along the controversial route (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ a mile-long tunnel underneath Long Itchington Wood (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ is set to feature on BBC 2 show Great British Railway Journeys (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ Kenilworth (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ Solihull (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ told the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ daily newsletter. (data.reachplc.com)