Packham: HS2 is biggest threat to ancient forests since the First World War
TELEVISION naturalist Chris Packham yesterday declared war on the High Speed 2 rail scheme, branding it an “environmental catastrophe”.
The route from London to Manchester and Leeds and beyond will devastate more than 100 wildlife-rich ancient woodlands and encourage air travel by providing quick links to Heathrow, he said.
The estimated £100billion cost of HS2 would be better spent on a “clean, green and sustainable future”, said the Springwatch star.
Branding the railway a white elephant, he said: “I never thought I’d say we should kill an elephant, but this is one that should be blown out of existence.”
Leaked
The 250mph line is due to open between London and Birmingham by 2026, with the second phase to Manchester and Leeds scheduled to be running by 2033.
The route was originally expected to cost about £56billion.
But earlier this month a leaked letter from HS2’s chairman, Allan Cook, said it could cost £30billion extra.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has expressed unease about its price tag, last week said the final bill would “probably be north of £100billion”.
Mr Packham has made a short film calling for the project to be scrapped, and yesterday issued a statement urging green groups “to rise up”.
He said: “HS2 represents the largest deforestation since World War I. Its environmental impact will be catastrophic.
“Over 100 ancient woodlands will be destroyed or damaged. We need to fight tooth and nail for nature.
“We can rebuild Notre-Dame, but it’s the cathedrals of nature we must really protect… now… and that includes our ancient woodlands.
“What’s even worse, is that rather than reducing air travel, HS2 may enable an enormous growth in airport expansion, the worst thing we can do in the climate emergency this very government has announced.”
Mr Packham, who is a hate figure for the hunting lobby because of his strong conservation views, slammed his fellow green groups or non-governmental organisations.
He said they “have allowed HS2 to get this far and I politely ask them now to rise up and to hold this Government to account over the unfolding catastrophe that is HS2… a catastrophe for our woodlands, a catastrophe for our climate, a catastrophe for endangered species, a catastrophe for communities, a catastrophe for tax payers as over £100billion is wasted on the biggest albino elephant we’ve ever seen”.