HS2 is a huge threat to Newcastle-under-Lyme’s rural communities. It threatens centuries old woodland with its diverse array of wildlife. They claim HS2 will be a “cleaner way to travel”. But the truth, running HS2 will increase carbon admissions – a fact HS2 Ltd. admit themselves. It is estimated the carbon cost of construction will be 4.6 times greater than the entire footprint of 120 years of its use.
Chris Packham says HS2 is the “largest deforestation programmes since the First World War” . He along with charities such as the RSPB, CPRE, BBOWT and The Woodland trust condemn HS2 for its environmental wrecking of 693 local wildlife site, 108 ancient woodlands and 33 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s).
HS2 is not only costing the earth of its invaluable wildlife and nature it is also estimated to cost a staggering £127 billion. On the 25 th November, in the middle of the pandemic, Rishi Sunak announced the “economic emergency has only just begun”. The cost of HS2 is constantly increasing – originally it was to cost £55 billion - with the worst recession in a century about to hit and the threat of tax rises to pay for COVID, now is the time to reconsider where to relocate the budget.
The HS2 budget would be better spent in the rural communities of Newcastle-under-Lyme by creating a better transport system. Newcastle-under-Lyme’s rural communities have been starved of adequate public transport – which would go a long way towards bringing CO2 emissions down. Investing in cycle paths/lanes to protect vulnerable cyclists is another way the budget can be relocated.
The Shropshire Star reported in July 2017 that 500 HS2 lorries will be travelling to and from Madeley to Woore on the A525 daily for the duration of 2 months – “reducing substantially outside of these two months,” a HS2 spokesperson said. However, Councillor Mike Cowey, vice chair of Woore Parish Council (2017) was concerned the period “will last longer.” Woore Parish Council are fighting the plans and have set up an action group.
Residents of Whitmore, Madeley and Onnely; Staffordshire villages that will be severely affected by the daily convoys of trucks, are still unaware they will be passing close to their homes. In a freedom of information request to Staffordshire County Council asking for them arrange a meeting so members of the public can raise their concerns SCC replied – “the appropriate time to bring objections and raise concerns about the project was via the parliamentary process which… is now complete.”
Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah lived near the South Circular Road in Lewisham. She died in 2013 and the corner, Philip Barlow, found that air pollution “made a material contribution” to her death. He called for more information be made available to the public regarding air pollution and its impact to the public. Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Ella’s mum said, “as the parent of a child suffering from severe asthma, I should have been given this information, but this did not happen.”
The public in the Staffordshire villages of Whitmore, Madeley and Onnely have not been fully informed of the issues surrounding HS2. With the petition stage now complete and Royal Assent given on Thursday 11 th February 2021, I am deeply concerned that the secrecy engulfing HS2 has misinformed the public making any response or views to Staffordshire County Council distorted.
In an email to a member of Madeley And Whitmore Independent Residents' STOP HS2 Facebook group, Staffordshire County Council made the following statement – “The County Council remains focused on getting the best deal for Staffordshire in terms of mitigation, compensation for residents, improved connectivity and economic benefits. The Council will retain this focus throughout construction, undertaking its statutory role to minimise impacts wherever possible and ensuring that commitments made during the parliamentary process are delivered.”