Burrowing HS2 protestors defy bailiffs

ANTI-HS2 protestors continued to occupy makeshift tunnels outside Euston station in late February, despite efforts to remove them for their own safety.

Although most of the protestors camping in

Euston Square Gardens were removed by February 23, four remained underground as we closed for press, having been there for a month as part of a campaign to halt construction of the new railway. At least one activist was locked into position in the tunnel, further increasing the risk to themselves and the bailiffs called in to remove them.

The tunnels, claimed to be about 100ft long, were dug in an area that will become a temporary taxi rank during the construction of improved links between Euston and Euston Square Underground station.

Despite an application to the High Court in late January to halt their eviction, the protestors were ordered to cease all tunnelling activity and inform HS2 Ltd and the emergency services about how many people were in the tunnels, their design, size and layout, and to leave safely.

However, just a small number of protestors, who had been suffering from health problems, have since left the tunnels.

Collapse risk

Risks to those inside included potential collapse of the partially supported tunnels, the proximity of underground utilities, flooding and suffocation.

For the latter, HS2 Ltd was forced to supply a specialist air pump to circulate air through the tunnels as the protestors had not made any provision for fresh air supply. Experts estimate that the cost of extra security, excavations and safety measures at the illegal camp could be as high as £3 million.

A second tunnel camp discovered at Highbury Corner on February 9 was not related to anti-HS2 protests, but the activists have hinted that the Euston protest will be the first of a new wave of activities to disrupt construction along the HS2 route.

However, the longestrunning anti-HS2 protest camp was finally removed after three-and-a-half years on February 13. The National Eviction Team and police officers evicted seven protestors from the Harvil Road site in the Colne Valley, 25 miles north of London.

According to a report in The Times on February 10, almost £50million has been spent by the Government on tackling climate change activists protesting against HS2 since it was first announced in 2009.