HS2 ‘turns fields to wasteland’
HUGE stretches of Midland countryside are being turned to “wasteland” by HS2 and risk allowing a poisonous weed to run riot, a Solihull campaigner has claimed.
Balsall Common resident Richard Lloyd claims that clearing farmland has created ideal conditions for ragwort – a highly-invasive species, which poses a danger to both horses, cattle and dogs.
Speaking this week, he said urgent action was needed to stop the spread of the weed, or else HS2’s legacy would be allowing the plant to thrive for “generations to come”.
HS2 contractor LM insisted it was taking steps to keep the greenery under control.
“This is a catastrophe,” Mr Lloyd told the council’s HS2 Implementation Advisory Group
“We have vast swathes of country which have gone from being agricultural land to being a wasteland and on that wasteland ragwort is now flourishing and in the process of turning to seed. And when that turns to seed that is going to blow across the entire landscape for 100 miles between here and London. We have to get that problem sorted very, very rapidly.
“It’s a legal requirement to control ragwort because it’s a poisonous plant which is toxic even to humans.” Mr Lloyd said he was also concerned about the “maze” of fences appearing along the route, which he said posed a danger to wildlife, and called on Solihull Council to take a stronger line with HS2.
Berkswell resident Sheila Cooper echoed the concerns about ragwort, which she said could lie dormant in the soil for 20 years and posed a real danger.
“The haymaking season is well under way and most of it has been done and any ragwort which gets into hay and is dried is even more palatable to animals and causes liver disease, especially with horses – but it’s noxious to all animals.”
Cllr Tony Dicicco, who chairs the advisory group, said he understood the problems the plant could cause. “We do need to do something about it and I’m sure we will,” he said. Katrien Goossens, LM’s community engagement lead, said: “We are looking at the maintenance for the whole area that we have cleared. We will keep an eye on that and there is now going to be spot checks.”