Judge bans protests over HS2 route

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has won a High Court fight with environmental campaigners opposed to the HS2 rail line running through a woodland area in west London.

A judge yesterday imposed an injunction banning “unlawful protest activities” in and around a construction site near Harvil Road in Hillingdon.

Mr Justice Barling had heard arguments from lawyers representing Mr Grayling as well as HS2 bosses and demonstrators.

More than a dozen protesters were at the High Court hearing in London. One protest leader said it was the first time ministers had taken such legal action in a bid to stop an HS2 protest.

Mark Keir, co-ordinator of the Hillingdon Green Party, said around 50 people were trying to protect wildlife in an area of about 300 acres.