HS2 protest taking place in Buckinghamshire
Campaigners are hitting the streets of Aylesbury
Last updated 25th Nov 2021
A protest against the controversial HS2 rail project is taking place in Buckinghamshire today (25 November).
Campaigners have said they are unhappy that the scheme has caused trees to be felled, along the Oxford Road in Aylesbury.
According to the 'STOP HS2' organisation, which is leading the demonstration, many of the shrubs that have been culled contain bat habitats.
The campaign group also said "wildlife crimes" are being committed on a "daily basis", and that there is "traffic chaos" when traffic lights are set up.
'Huge carbon footprint of the project'
Colin Bloxham, an Aylesbury resident who is joining the protest, told Greatest Hits Radio:
"I'm all in favour of investment in rail, but the scale of HS2 and the inappropriateness of the project, plus the cost, can't be justified.
"We're experiencing massive disruption on the road.
"We're seeing destruction of precious habitats.
"The huge carbon footprint of the project in the first place is not going to be recouped for, I would say, for at least a century."
The government claims that HS2 will be a major boost for connectivity across the country, meeting what it calls a "long-term" rising demand for rail services.
An HS2 spokesperson said:
“HS2 takes its legal obligations seriously and all our ecology work is carried out in accordance with the law. The trees removed from the Oxford Road were surveyed in advance and overseen by an ecological clerk of works. No evidence of bat roosts was found.
“We are delivering one of Britain’s biggest environmental programmes, planting 7 million trees and creating better habitats for local wildlife. By providing a cleaner, greener way to travel, HS2 will help cut the number of cars and lorries on our roads, cut demand for domestic flights, and help the country’s push to reduce carbon emissions.”
Today's demonstration, on Oxford Road in Aylesbury, got underway at 9.30am.