New blow to HS2 as bosses told to stop felling trees

THE destruction of ancient woodland for HS2 must be stopped unless ‘absolutely necessary’ to avoid major costs and delays, the Transport Secretary said yesterday.

Developers of the controversial highspeed rail link had been due to bulldoze scores of irreplaceable beauty spots across England, from the Home Counties to the North West and Yorkshire.

At least 11 were due to be flattened as soon as this autumn, the Woodland Trust said. But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps intervened yesterday to order HS2 Ltd – which is building the link – to wait, unless it can prove a clearance is absolutely necessary.

It marks yet another blow to the beleaguered project, which is running up to £32billion over budget. A Government inquiry has been set up to decide its future. HS2 Ltd has been ordered to stop destroying woodland until the review led by former HS2 chairman Douglas Oakervee completes in the coming months.

Mr Shapps said: ‘Having listened to the concerns of affected residents and parlia

‘They are still under threat’

mentary colleagues, I have ordered HS2 Ltd to consider what works affecting ancient woodland clearances can be delayed. This ensures we avoid irreversible decisions without major impacts on cost and schedule.’

At least 108 ancient woods will be affected by HS2, with 63 hit by ‘direct loss’ and damage, according to the Woodland Trust. A further 47 are at risk.

Yesterday’s announcement came minutes after HS2 served the charity with a list of 11 woods scheduled for clearance this autumn. The sites, in Warwickshire and Staffordshire, are home to rare animals and trees many hundreds of years old.

Woodland Trust ecologist Luci Ryan said of Mr Shapps’ announcement: ‘This is a step in the right direction, but these woods remain threatened as HS2 can decide for themselves whether works continue. Until the outcome of the review, all ancient woodlands should be off limits.’

HS2 Ltd says more than 80 per cent of affected ancient woods will ‘remain intact and untouched’ and that it will plant more than four times as many new trees.