Government ignore more independent criticism of HS2.

Today (18^th June), the Government response to the recommendations of the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) on HS2 has been published, and it will come as no surprise that, like the recommendations previously made by the Transport Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, the concerns of an independent group of MPs have been completely ignored.

The nearest the Government came to accepting anything the Committee had said was about the suggestion to have an independent body to monitor the creation of off-set habitats, with the Government saying they will “consider further” the options for Natural England or local authorities having such a role.

In spite of the recommendations of the EAC, the Government:

• Rejected the call for a ring-fenced budget for environmental protection measures.
• Stuck by the calculations to be used on the ‘condition’ and ‘connectedness’ of ancient woodland, which will lower the amount of new woodland required, despite ancient woodlands being universally regarded as irreplaceable.
• Claimed that an appropriate baseline was developed to enable assessment to a sufficient level in the Environmental Statement, despite the fact that 40% of the route has not been surveyed.
• Ignored the concern of the committee that they had not distinguished clearly between ‘mitigation’ and ‘compensation’ measures in respect of biodiversity.
• Rejected the idea of slowing the design speed of HS2 to reduce the carbon impact of HS2, saying that HS2 Ltd have the “Intention to develop and apply a carbon management strategy”, and that “HS2 Ltd is clear that operating at lower speed would reduce carbon emissions from the operation of rolling stock by only a relatively small degree, and would increase journey times, making HS2 a less attractive option to customers on roads and using flights. This is likely to result in less mode shift and potentially less carbon benefit associated with the operation of HS2, which could lead to an overall increase in UK carbon emissions compared to the existing proposed operating speed.”
• Admitted that Natural England has additional information on woodlands, which was not incorporated into the Environmental Statement.
• Ignored the suggestion that HS2 Ltd should monitor all aspects of the environmental protections needed for HS2 for the 60 years, saying with some habitats “a five year period may be appropriate”.

Chair of the Committee, Joan Walley MP, said:

“Opinion is divided on the merits or otherwise of HS2. But everyone should be united in wanting the environmental impacts of the railway to be avoided or minimised as much as possible. It is disappointing that the Government will settle for no overall biodiversity loss, when it could use the enormous budget for the scheme to provide more gains than losses for the environment. That is a wasted opportunity. If ancient woodlands and other critical habitats will be lost, they should at least be much more fully compensated for than currently planned by the Government’s off-setting system.”

Map showing the natural impacts on just Stage 1 of HS2

Stop HS2 Campaign Manager Joe Rukin said:

“Yet again, we have had proper scrutiny of HS2 from a group of independent MPs, who have taken their time, examined the evidence and come up with well-thought out recommendations, and yet again they Government have stuck their fingers in their ears and ignored every word. There is no question that the environmental impacts of HS2 are severe, and with only 40% of the route having been surveyed, it is clear that HS2 Ltd have paid little or no attention to them. It is quite simple, the Government just don’t care about the impact of HS2, they want to get it done no matter what the cost.”

Penny Gaines, Chair of Stop HS2 said:

“We are shocked at the cavalier attitude to very real environmental concerns that the Government’s response to the Commons Environmental Audit Committee report demonstrates.  Building HS2 will cause immense environmental damage to the areas it blasts through, but this response shows the government aims to put in as little restoration as they can get away with.”

“We are aghast that they can suggest what matters about ancient woodland is how it looks.  Ancient woodland is defined as 400 years old and it is the whole ecosystem, including soil structure and the seed bank. It is simply not good enough to say that some sites should only be monitored for just 5 years.  This is less time than HS2 will take to build.  With no ring fenced money for monitoring environmental protection and HS2 Ltd’s track record, it is highly likely that any budget set aside for the environment will find itself being used to prop up budget overruns elsewhere.”

“With even HS2 Ltd’s figures saying that HS2 will cause increased carbon emissions until after 2086 there is no environmental case whatsoever for the proposed new railway.  The EAC suggested slowing the trains down to reduce carbon emissions sooner.  The Government claimed that slower trains would mean less modal shift, but HS2 Ltd’s current estimates show that there is going to be almost no modal shift from air anyway.”

“It is clear from this response that HS2 is all about having shiny new fast trains, not improving the rail system for ordinary people. HS2 is an environmental disaster, and should be cancelled as soon as possible.”