Last week, the Greens 4 HS2 group produced a short video, trying to make the case for HS2. We watched it, and as you might imagine, there wasn’t a lot in it which we agreed with! As such, we’ve produced our own video as a response. It runs for half an hour because this is a complicated subject, and too many of the arguments being made for HS2 are jingoistic soundbites which need unpacking with facts. So we hope we have balanced the need for detailed facts on complex issues, with the need for the whole thing to be a digestible size, as the video covers issues such as: carbon, capacity, aviation, roads, habitats, wildlife, some of the realities of just how terribly run this project has been over the last thirteen years, and of course the vested-interest lobbying that exists around HS2.
To keep it down to half an hour, we haven’t really mentioned the ever-spiralling costs, the desperate need for secrecy, the woeful attitude to people effected, or the total inability of Government to keep the project under control!
A full list of references will appear in the description of the video on/by Friday.
References, in order
Barn Owl Trust article: https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/hs2-an-extremely-expensive-way-of-killing-barn-owls/
RSPB on Barn Owls and HS2: https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/rspb-england/posts/barn-owls-nests-and-hs2
Wildlife Trusts 2023 report,
Press Statement: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/new-report-hs2-got-it-wrong
Full Report (pdf): https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/23JAN_HS2_Double_Jeopardy_FINAL01.02.23.pdf
Video, “When is a tree not a tree?”:
2020 report from the Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, RSPB & National Trust,
Press Statement: https://www.nwt.org.uk/news/hs2-new-report-reveals-exorbitant-cost-nature
Full Report (pdf): https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/What%27s%20the%20damage%20-%20Full%20Report%20digital2_0.pdf
High Speed Rail Industry Leaders Group, membership page: https://www.rail-leaders.com/membership/
All drone footage and more can be viewed on Michael Warners Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mikekwarner/videos
Article on 4000+3000 parking spaces at HS2 BHX stations: https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/plans-new-hs2-station-car-24458898
4000 space HS2 car park at Manchester Airport: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1139851/F2_Manchester_Airport_High_Speed_Station_v2.pdf
Birmingham Airport boss on HS2 helping expansion: https://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2017/05/23/airport-could-build-new-terminal-beside-hs2-birmingham-interchange-station/
Manchester Airport boss on HS2 helping expansion: https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/manchester-airport-seeks-to-maximise-hs2-benefits-to-passengers/
Heathrow HS2 spur ‘ruled out’: http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/mar-2015/mcloughlin-rules-out-dedicated-spur-heathrow-airport-hs2
Oakervee Review various,
Oakervee privately dined with consultants during HS2 review: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/hs2/oakervee-privately-dined-with-consultants-during-hs2-review-18-05-2021/
HS2 Oakervee review criticised by own deputy chair: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/hs2-oakervee-review-criticised-deputy-chair-05-11-2019/
HS2 costs could hit £106bn, leaked review warns: https://www.cityam.com/hs2-costs-could-hit-106bn-leaked-review-warns/
UK government refutes misconduct claims over HS2: https://www.railfreight.com/business/2021/08/06/uk-government-refutes-misconduct-claims-over-hs2/
Dissenting Report, by Tony Berkeley: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A8e9c8f87-2650-4aa0-8e0f-0eaf6e709640
Tony Berkeley resignation tweet: https://twitter.com/tonyberkeley1/status/1194521975735160832
Speech by Lord Berkeley, in which he said HS2 Ltd has paid off Whistle-blowers and is ‘Rampant with fraud’: https://stophs2.org/news/18511-lord-berkeley-hs2-paid-whistleblowers-rampant-fraud
HS2 Carbon Papers:
Margaret Hodge “I’m nobody’s fool” video
Full playlist of PAC session above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoUp2WaodqI&list=PL788EE5C4D923AF70
Amber-Red Rating. Various from Stop HS2,
Despite Cameron’s ‘Transparency Agenda’, HS2 ‘Amber-Red’ report to be kept secret for two years: https://stophs2.org/news/5420-camerons-transparency-agenda-hs2-amber-red-report-secret-years
MPA Annual Report claims amber-red status represents ‘significant progress’: https://stophs2.org/news/11033-mpa-annual-report-claims-amber-red-status-represents-significant-progress
HS2 to stay on amber-red alert says MPA chief, as release of reports goes to appeal: https://stophs2.org/news/9207-hs2-stay-amber-red-alert-mpa-chief-release-reports-appeal
Use of ‘War Veto’ to block publication of HS2 reports is illegal, say Stop HS2: https://stophs2.org/news/10240-war-veto-block-publication-hs2-reports-illegal-stop-hs2
Information Commissioner rules for release of HS2 reports. Supreme Court destroys Govt veto: https://stophs2.org/news/13346-information-commissioner-rules-release-hs2-reports-prince-charles-ruling-destroys-government-veto
HS2 still in danger of failing says official Government report: https://stophs2.org/news/13824-hs2-danger-failing-official-government-report
HS2 reports are now so secret, even HS2 Ltd aren’t shown them: https://stophs2.org/news/14325-hs2-reports-secret-hs2-arent-shown-them
New call for HS2 Review, as it is Confirmed Previous Ones Stay Secret: https://stophs2.org/news/16979-call-hs2-review-confirmed-previous-secret
Cabinet Office Report Shows HS2 Still “In Doubt With Major Risks”: https://stophs2.org/news/17155-17155
Secret HS2 Documents Question if Phase 2 is Affordable: https://stophs2.org/news/17293-secret-hs2-documents-question-phase-2-affordable
Well of course HS2 has been rated ‘amber-red’, it’s always bloody ‘amber-red’!: https://stophs2.org/news/17586-hs2-rated-amber-red-its-bloody-amber-red
HS2 Extend Their Cloak of Secrecy, Demanding the Signing of 276 Gagging Orders: https://stophs2.org/news/18501-hs2-extend-cloak-secrecy-demanding-signing-276-gagging-orders
National Audit Office report on HS2, January 2020 https://stophs2.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/NAO-report-HS2-a-progresss-update.pdf
Slurry Pool, see Emergency Motion:
Chris Stokes evidence to House of Lords:
Supplement to HS2 Strategic Case, Technical Annex: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/480647/annex-demand-and-capacity-pressures.pdf
Companies House Search Result:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=permanent+rail+engineering
Arcadis and NPP (in paragraph above one with ‘Addleshaw Goddard; in bold): https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2007319-people-move-hurst-intellectual-property-office-northern-powerhouse-partnership-statiflo-graphite-resourcing
Northern Powerhouse Partnership Membership:
Northern Powerhouse Rail, the most detailed explanation you’ll find: https://transportforthenorth.com/northern-powerhouse-rail/
Greens Against HS2 