Why oppose HS2?

Earlier this morning The Pirate Party, who stood in the European and local elections in some places last week, tweeted that they hadn’t yet formed a policy on HS2, and asked for opinions

Fair to say our members haven’t agreed a #HS2 Party policy. We’re very interested to know more opinions. What do you all think?

— Pirate Party (@PiratePartyUK) May 30, 2014

In reposnse, I tweeted the following ideas

@PiratePartyUK Your principles include “sharing of knowledge, ideas and culture”… — Penny Gaines (@Penny_Gaines) May 30, 2014

@PiratePartyUK …, but #hs2 ltd /dft completely ignored changes to society due to internet when developing plans for #hs2 (so #stophs2 ) — Penny Gaines (@Penny_Gaines) May 30, 2014

@PiratePartyUK Building #HS2 is environmentally damaging, but will still not break even for carbon until after 2086 (HS2 Ltd’s figures) — Penny Gaines (@Penny_Gaines) May 30, 2014

@PiratePartyUK Building a more conventional speed railway would be 10% cheaper than #hs2 and could have stations for use by commuters… — Penny Gaines (@Penny_Gaines) May 30, 2014

@PiratePartyUK … whereas developers of #hs2 rejected station at Milton Keynes ‘cos too many commuters would use it… — Penny Gaines (@Penny_Gaines) May 30, 2014

@PiratePartyUK … and elsewhere because commuter stations would slow trains too much #hs2 — Penny Gaines (@Penny_Gaines) May 30, 2014

Of course there are many other reasons why political parties should explicitly oppose HS2. Both the Green Party and UKIP oppose HS2, and picked up votes in last week’s elections because of it. Stop HS2 are having a stand at the Labour Party Conference in September (donations to help pay for it are very welcome.)