This was a first visit to this pub which I found thanks to the wonders of the world wide web. While checking it out I stumbled on Is it a bird, is it a plane, or is it HS2?, a page on their website expressing opposition to HS2 (the proposed high speed rail line between London and Birmingham - High Speed Two - HS2 Ltd). In a separate news item the owners have pointed out the absurdity of the situation where plans for a major infrastructure development in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can be forced through but they couldn't get planning permission for an outside shelter for customers who wish to smoke (Gimme Shelter!)
The Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust have also expressed serious concerns about the environmental impact if HS2 goes ahead. In their latest press release dated 21 December they state “The route announced yesterday will irreparably damage several important wildlife sites including Calvert Jubilee Nature Reserve in north Buckinghamshire and the Colne Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest in south Buckinghamshire.” (full BBOWT Press Release).
See also:
The conservation/heritage/environmental argument is of course just one issue affecting how people view HS2. The Government and the rail industry say that the construction of a fast line is essential to provide meet capacity demands and claim that the saving in journey times (which may be as little as 20 minutes - See Daily Telegraph Is this another High-Speed train crash?) while groups (official and unofficial representing residents are concerned about the impact on the around around their homes. The economic argument is also split with claims of both positive and negative outcomes.
I have no idea how HS2 will (assuming it goes ahead) affect me as a resident of Buckinghamshire and a commuter into London, but I intend to do more reading and return to the subject over the next few weeks. In the meantime, please feel free to express your own views (whether for or against HS2) by posting a comment below.
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I also became acutely aware of the HS2 issue when I walked the Ridgeway between Wendover and Princes Risborough a couple of months back. I did pass the Plough pub and although I didn't visit at the time I'll take your recommendation next time we're in the area.
ReplyDeleteReturning to HS2, there are markers where the route of the HS2 will pass - which includes under the Ridgeway on the edge of Wendover, which will see the demolition of a number of houses. There are photos on Flickr and campaign websites that show other points on the route - all of them idyllic Chiltern countryside.
I understand the route needs to pass through the Chilterns as the time saving can only be made with as direct route as possible. However I do wonder about the strength of case for this, not least due to disruption - both temporary and permanent it will cause for such a pristine area, who also fail to benefit from it. There's also some speculation that HS2 will actually reduce current capacity at Euston.
I'm not sure the route will affect you - it broadly follows the route of the Great Central railway - but everyone who appreciates the local countryside should be concerned.
I too have doubts about the business case and do wonder if the cost in financial, environmental and disruption terms is justified by the benefits from journey time reductions and the increase in rail capacity.
ReplyDeleteAlthough those of us who travel in from stations like Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Leighton Buzzard etc are unlikely to have homes which will be close to the line, we will be impacted as commuters because it's expected that the new line will terminate at Euston.
HS2 will be another in a long line of development works with all of the accompanying disruption that we've had to suffer that started with the West Coast Main Line "upgrade" in the 1990s.
Truth is, no-one knows or can predict the costs or business case as almost all the scenarios are unknown.
ReplyDeleteSo to say things like "we can't afford it" is completely missing the point. We can't afford the Olympics or Crossrail or IEP or Great Western electrification but they are all going ahead.
The environmental argument is also flawed, the chilterns are NOT an area of outstanding natural beauty. They are simply the first bit of countryside outside of London with sky high real-estate sitting on top of them. One of the main purposes of high-speed rail is to cut emissions by offering people an alternative to driving or (ultimately) flying which pollute way more than High Speed rail.
To me, the only opposition for HS2 comes from self interest NIMBY groups, nothing more. Everyone in business (other than the LSE whose head has a house in the chilterns) agrees, across the UK.
Of course people will object to new lines being built through their backyard, that should be the only objection, not the fact that they keep making up spurious lies and publishing them in their own papers.