Telegraph: Our ancient woodlands that could be lost to the bulldozer
Ancient woodlands covering an area larger than 12,700 football pitches are threatened with destruction to make way for new building developments and the controversial high-speed rail link….
In Yorkshire, on one of the “Y branches” of HS2, a broadleaved woodland called Womb-well Wood is also threatened. It supports a rich diversity of wildlife, including skylarks, woodpeckers and kestrels.
The Sun:HS2 compo process branded ‘so unfair as to be unlawful’
THE HS2 high-speed rail scheme suffered a setback today when the High Court branded its compensation process “so unfair as to be unlawful”.
This is Staffordshire: HS2 in Staffordshire: Swynnerton action group formed to fight rail plans
FAMILIES have formed an action group to fight plans to run the controversial HS2 railway line through part of their village.
The Swynnerton HS2 Action Group will be run by a band of residents and local councillors Stan Highfield, Frank Chapman and Dave Butler.
Well Blogger Me: HS2 puts question mark over Bentinck Pit plan
After years of political wrangling and protests, the Nottinghamshire County Council Planning Committee gave the go-ahead to ambitious plans to create an outdoor recreation park at Bentinck Tip, just outside Selston. Local activists successfully fought plans to create a huge landfill site when the Council past plans in November 2012.
100 new jobs were planned for the site which would give a major boost to the local economy. The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust have been involved in discussions to make sure care is taken to protect the large diversity of wildlife present at the site.
Rail Technology Magazine: Lords submit alternative route for HS2
An alternative proposal for how HS2 connects to Euston and HS1 could create better links within London with less local impact, Lords Bill Bradshaw and Tony Berkeley have argued.
The pair have submitted an alternative option, which they have urged transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin to investigate as “a matter of urgency”.
Solihull Obsever: Shock at planned site for HS2 workforce
SHOCK and amazement – the overriding emotion of Balsall Common residents when they discovered a construction base for HS2 could be built next to their village….
It is likely the site would be used for up to three years and could include accommodation for around 40 workers.
A new temporary roundabout would also have to be built at the junction of Park Lane and Kenilworth Road to cope with traffic while the need for a second smaller site was also identified at nearby Truggist Lane.
LocalGov: HS2 ‘jeopardises’ Leicestershire infrastructure, council leader warns
High Speed 2 (HS2) rail plans are threatening developments in Leicestershire expected to boost the local economy, a council leader has warned.
In a letter to transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, Leicestershire CC leader Nick Rushton has urged the Government to amend HS2 route plans which would see the line pass through a freight interchange to the north of East Midlands Airport.
Platform: HS2: “I Felt Stunned And Angry”
The new High-Speed 2 train line that is set to run through the East Midlands is going to be a life-changing development for Platform Magazine writer Connor Woolley, with his home in Long Eaton set to be knocked down to make way for the line.
“When I first heard about the high speed rail it was some months ago, however I simply didn’t think it would affect me. It has and it will continue to do so for the rest of my life,” explains Connor.
Leicester Mercury: £253m spent… and that’s before any work has begun
The news that High Speed Rail 2 is already over budget has come to no surprise to campaigners against the project.
A fortnight ago, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced plans for a Paving Bill to be introduced in Parliament this year, which has the sole purpose of releasing more money for the project.