Wildlife trust launches scathing attack over HS2 (From Bucks Free Press)
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Wildlife trust launches scathing attack over HS2
6:50am Wednesday 11th January 2012 in News By James Nadal
Bechstein bats would be affected, says charity
THE Government has been lambasted for ignoring High Speed 2's impact on wildlife and important natural habitats.
A scathing attack has been launched by The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust on the decision announced yesterday.
The charity reiterated that a rare and protected species of bat would be among the victims if the rail line was built.
Philippa Lyons, Chief Executive of the trust, said: “We are very disappointed with the decision to go ahead with this route for HS2, which was chosen without any proper scrutiny of the impacts on the wildlife that will be affected.
“It is an utter disgrace that the Government is not facing up to its responsibilities to biodiversity and the natural environment, and continues to dismiss the environmental impacts of this route on vulnerable wildlife habitats.
“These include Ancient Woodlands and meadows, two of our nature reserves and several Local Wildlife Sites noted for their wildflowers, butterflies and birds.”
More than 2,000 members of the Wildlife Trust responded to the Government’s consultation last year.
“They will be horrified that the Government appears to have ignored the passionate and informed comments they submitted,” said Mrs Lyons.
“Extending a tunnel in the Chilterns may save one group of Ancient Woodlands, but does nothing to protect the Bernwood Forest area north of Aylesbury which will be directly impacted.
“This will affect the highly-protected Bechstein’s bats that are known to use woods on both sides of the proposed route for their habitats.”
The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust will continue to lobby the Government.
Comments(2)
Scarletto
says...
3:51pm Wed 11 Jan 12
At the next election vote them out and at least elect another candidate, even though they would almost certainly be another Conservative. That'll teach them that they let us down.
Dominic Grieve in Beaconsfield and David Lidington, Aylesbury's MP, should hang their heads in shame as they backtrack and eat their first pledges to back the rail scheme and to save their loyalty to David Cameron.
Yes, all 3 parties nationally supported this scheme and outside our area it's very probably approved by most people there.
A few local Labour and Lib Dems opposed the costly scheme.
People nationally who support the scheme don't live here. We're branded as NIMBYs.
Two other elements have emerged which make the project a huge blunder more so. Fares on this route to Birmingham, for instance, will be considerably dearer than on the almost paralell Chiltern Line route. That will deter potential fast route passengers and they will use the cheaper old route. The faster route a white elephant??
Also, the contract for the building of this new ugly line must be advertised globally so it's quite likely a foreign consortium will get the ginormous contract. No gain for the UK economy or our unemployed. We are also powerless to to stop an EU company importing its own cheaper workforce to do the work.
So far our local MPs have almost gone into hiding. Let them speak up and explain their awful cowardly actions driven by wanting to keep their seats. How very dare they....
readerabc says...
11:12am Wed 11 Jan 12