Seven environmental protesters on the site of the HS2 development in the Colne Valley in Hillingdon have been threatened with injunctions by the transport secretary and HS2 Ltd in a bid to prevent their continued demonstrations on the controversial site.
Letters were served on Tuesday by hand at the Harvil Road site, where regular protests against the impact of the project on trees and wildlife have been staged since last October. They inform the protesters that the government and HS2 plan to seek high court injunctions against them to prevent them from demonstrating on the site.
Evershed Sutherland solicitors, acting for the secretary of state and HS2 Ltd, accuse the protesters of trespass, obstruction of the highway, obstruction of access and property damage.
They add that HS2 Ltd has the right to carry out surveys and take “temporary possession of certain lands”.
The legal letter states that, since last October, there have been more than 45 incidents involving the protesters trespassing, climbing onto vehicles and sitting, standing or lying in the path of vehicles and that these actions pose a “significant and unacceptable risk to health and safety”. They are seeking high court injunctions against the protesters because attempts to engage with them have failed.
Mark Keir, coordinator of Hillingdon Green party and one of the protesters who received an injunction letter , insisted that the environmental activists would not be deterred.
“The protests against HS2 in the Colne Valley will continue. We believe that the legal letter informing us they are seeking injunctions against us is an act of bullying,” he said.
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green party, said: “It’s quite shocking HS2 and the secretary of state for transport have opted to take such a heavy-handed approach to peaceful protesters who are simply trying to save up to 100 acres of ancient woodlands, an area of natural beauty that can never be replaced.
“We support those involved in non-violent direct action against HS2, a project we as a party have never supported. HS2, with its escalating price tag, is a monumental waste of money, which should instead be invested in our crumbling rail infrastructure across the UK.”
Critics of the high-speed rail scheme have expressed concern about high costs and the damage it could cause to the environment. Advocates say that, when it is completed, it will be the fastest rail network in Europe with trains able to carry 1,100 passengers travelling at 250mph. The cost of the project is escalating and it has been billed as the most expensive railway development in the world. The first phase is costing £24bn, which is forecast to rise to £56bn for the whole scheme.
A spokesperson for HS2 said: “We will seek an injunction if necessary to help us keep our work sites safe. We have a duty to deliver HS2 on time and on budget, and an injunction will help us avoid delays and additional costs to the UK taxpayer.
“We understand that people feel strongly about the impact the project will have on their community, and that they want us to hear their views. That is why we offer numerous channels through which they can make their feelings understood.”
Source: http://bit.ly/2FJnOST
