Anti-HS2 protesters tunnel under Euston, placing emergency services under ‘unnecessary strain’.
ANTI-HS2 protesters camped in a tunnel they built under Euston Square Gardens East have been accused of putting emergency services under unnecessary strain during the pandemic.
Although the Metropolitan Police began evicting protestors from the site on January 27, nine remained underground as this issue of RAIL went to press.
However, following an application to the High Court by Dr Larch Maxey (one of the activists), to prevent their eviction from their tunnel, Justice Robin Knowles instead ordered those underground to cease any further tunnelling activity, to inform HS2, The Health and Safety Executive, London Fire Brigade and the police about how many were in the tunnels (including how many were children), to provide details of the layout, size and engineering used for the tunnels, and to leave the tunnel safely.
Failure to do so could result in Maxey being in contempt of court - meaning he could face a fine, up to two years in prison, or both.
HS2 Ltd wants to convert the site into a temporary taxi rank while preparatory work (including the realignment of utilities) is carried out as part of the project to better connect Euston Square and Euston Underground stations.
However, the protesters believe the entire HS2 project is “the biggest land grab in modern British history”.
Maxey had told The Guardian: “Our building processes have definitely been a real feat of engineering, much more organic and handmade than HS2’s version.”
He added that he felt “very privileged to be involved” in the protest and that “I think it’s the most important thing I have done in my life so far”.
An HS2 Ltd spokesman said that everyone’s safety was the top priority, but that the protester’s actions represented a danger to the company’s staff and to the general public, as well as the activists.
The company highlighted that risks to the protesters include:
A tunnel collapse as it’s only partially shored.
Buried utilities (a gas main runs through the gardens).
Flooding (a Thames Water main is nearby and if damaged it could flood the tunnel).
Suffocation (HS2 Ltd has brought a specialist air pump to the site to circulate air in the tunnel, as it says the protestors made no provision for that).
Road/building collapse.
The company says it has been contacted by concerned local businesses worried their buildings could be affected by any collapse.
HS2 Ltd served notices on the legal owners and occupiers of the
land (London Borough of Camden, Network Rail and Transport for London) in mid-December, stating its intention to take the site under the powers of Temporary Possession as granted by Schedule 16 of the HS2 Act 2017. That notice period is over and HS2 Ltd is now entitled to take possession of the land.
Any occupants on the land are now trespassing. The current ban on evictions due to the pandemic is not applicable in this case, meaning that police, landowners and those with legal possession of the land have the power to remove trespassers using minimum force.
An HS2 Ltd spokesman told RAIL: “To ensure HS2 is able to deliver its major benefits to the UK on time, certain works must take place at designated times.” He confirmed that the protestors were trespassing.
HS2 Ltd reiterated that only 43 ancient woodlands (out of 52,000 such sites in England) will be affected by its LondonCrewe route, and that 80% of the total area of those 43 woodland sites will remain intact and untouched by the new railway.