HS2 protesters evicted from Buckinghamshire site
An operation has been underway this morning at Poors Piece, Calvert.
Protesters fighting against HS2 construction in Buckinghamshire have been removed from a site this morning.
HS2 Ltd. have told us activists have been trespassing on land which is legally owned by the company, so they have had to take action.
So they have been taking action at Poors Piece in Calvert.
Land is being cleared in preparation for the line's construction.
An HS2 Ltd spokesperson said:
"These activists are trespassing on land that is legally owned by HS2. The illegal and irresponsible actions of the activists put our staff at risk and place unnecessary strain on the emergency services during the pandemic.
"The construction of HS2 is playing a vital role in Britain's economic recovery from Covid-19, with over 15,000 people already working on the project and tens of thousands of additional jobs supported through our supply chain.
"We urge everyone who cares about our natural environment to support a project that is providing work across the UK today, and in the future will get people out of cars, off planes and onto low carbon rail travel."
This protester has described the scene:
What is being done?
- A thin strip along the northern edge of the wood needs to be cleared in order to make space for the new East-West rail connection between Oxford and Milton Keynes, via Bicester and Winslow. This will run along the southern edge of HS2's Infrastructure Maintenance Depot at Calvert.
- In order to simplify the works and reduce disruption for nearby residents, the East-West earthworks and bridges in this area will be delivered by HS2, at the same time as their main civils work.
- HS2 say they are working hard to reduce the impact of construction on the natural environment. They have reduced the amount of woodland that needs to be cleared at Poors Piece by 30% over the last year by moving a pedestrian public right of way bridge that was previously planned for this location.
The work is being done now before the start of the bird nesting season. Initial ecology surveys were carried out last year and more will be completed once the site is secure.