HS2 Rebellion protesters block Euston building site entrance of controversial new high speed rail line

Luke O'Reilly4 May 2020

A group calling themselves 'HS2 Rebellion' have blocked the entrance to a building site at Euston.

The activists are demanding that money being used to develop the controversial new high speed railway line go towards funding the NHS instead.

The protesters are wearing masks and standing two metres apart. They are claiming that the protest is part of their daily exercise, according to LBC.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light for HS2 in February, despite the plans running tens of billions of pounds over budget and several years behind schedule.

The group have demanded the money from HS2 be spent on the NHS instead

Reuters

The Government-commissioned Oakervee Review warned that the final bill could reach £106 billion at 2019 prices.

Latest Department for Transport figures suggest the full HS2 route will deliver £1.50 of benefits for every £1 spent, which is defined as being low to medium value for money.

After police arrived the protesters began jogging on the spot.

In a press statement the group said: "HS2 Ltd is risking the wellbeing of its workers, their families and communities by prioritising a few weeks of work over their safety.

"There are no winners here, but there are losers – and our NHS is one of them. Not only does HS2 work risk spreading infection, the money being funnelled into this over-budget project could be spent on our under-funded healthcare system."

The group says it has blockaded more than 20 other sites around the UK from London to Crackley Woods in Warwickshire.

However, a spokesperson for HS2 said the new line will provide a "cleaner, greener way to travel".

They added: "Encouraging the harassment of our staff for doing their jobs, alongside dangerous and costly protests and damage to our work sites, is unacceptable."

Protests have also been carried out in the Colne Valley, where an HS2 compound has been blocked since March 3 by demonstrators asserting squatters’ rights at its entrance.

An online campaign dubbed Risky Business will see others take to social media to target other Government projects, including 5 Rivers, Flannery Plant Hire, Hartwood, Midlands Ecology and Adas.

It came as a former Paralympian was due to appear in court charged with criminal damage at another HS2 construction site.

James Brown, 55, was arrested after allegedly climbing a drilling rig to prevent work from going ahead.