The latest update from Hero Granger-Taylor’s judicial review of HS2 Ltd’s design for the Euston Approaches. You can donate to her CrowdJustice appeal here.
Hero writes:
Despite the coronavirus lock-down, the full High Court hearing of my Judicial Review claim now looks very likely to go ahead on the scheduled days, 13-14 May, but remotely (via Zoom or similar).
The ‘additional hearing’ I wrote about in my last update has not taken place: instead the Judge will decide on my ‘request for specific disclosure’ on the on the basis of papers submitted. We expect the outcome shortly.
In the meantime, though hampered by HS2 Ltd’s refusal voluntarily to produce all the evidence they have referred to, we must get on with preparations for the full hearing, and this is now a very short time away!
If the interim ‘additional hearing’ had happened, as explained in my update of 13 April, this would have provided an opportunity for the Judge to have ‘rolled up’ the case without the full hearing: for this reason I did not seek donations at that point.
I know that the current coronavirus crisis has created major financial difficulties for most people: forgive me for asking for your support at this time. But there will be legal and publicity gains to be made by continuing to the full hearing.
Whatever the outcome, this hearing will end with a judgment which will become case law. Because my case is going through on Human Rights arguments, if the judge’s decision is in my favour, this will provide a precedent which should help other private litigants who bring similar cases in the future. My solicitor, Jayesh Kunwardia, believes that this is the first time that Article 8 of the UK Human Rights Act will have been applied to a case concerning construction/a structure (the construction that HS2 Ltd proposes and its effect on me, my family and an existing structure, my home).
Secondly, the full hearing should generate useful publicity, shining a light on the frailty of the engineering of HS2 as a whole, on the inadequate procedures for assessment followed by HS2 Ltd and their contractors, as well as on HS2 Ltd’s now systemic secretiveness.
Thirdly, it ought to hasten the Government’s announcement on the future of HS2 at Euston and, with luck, the acceptance at the Department for Transport that, as advocated in the Oakervee Review, only a much simpler design for the Approaches, with not more than 14 trains per hour, is actually feasible here.
I am not allowed to share the most significant documents we have received from the Defence side, but I can report that we have just been sent a letter confirming that no assessment has yet been made of the effects of the Three Tunnels design on the existing structures around it, including its effects on the unstable Park Village East retaining wall directly above. This can be contrasted with the statement from HS2 Ltd given in an article on my case in the Times for 18 April: ‘We strongly dispute any suggestion that the current design poses any threat to the structural integrity of the retaining wall at Park Village East and have provided robust evidence to the court to that effect’. So far, my side has received no such evidence and we have no expectations of receiving ‘robust’ evidence of this kind in the future.
There are many other inconsistencies between HS2 Ltd’s public position and the evidence so far released to us and it is these in particular which make me hopeful of a successful outcome next month.
With best wishes for everyone’s good health, Hero
It’s unbelievable arrogance that HS2 Ltd can link people like Florence Nightingale & Martie Curie who did incredible work….. compared to some boring machines, which are linked to vast environmental damage. Well, since Mark Thurston is inviting suggestions, let’s let him know what we really think with names such as “Vandal 1st. class”, “Environmental destroyer” “Bird killer”, I am sure you can think of more suitable suggestions, Thurston asked for suggestions let him have them!
Noting Mr. Mold’s involvement in Hero Granger-Taylor’s appeal does not inspire confidence, he had been previously involved on shooting down petitioners’ appeals, and assuring the Commons that all would be well in the end….Well, we have seen how HS2 Ltd.’s employees have been ignoring rules on safe distancing, whilst cutting down trees with nesting birds, this is all known and witnessed. The Hero Granger-Taylor appeal has been basically told by lawyers representing HS2 Ltd. and Govt. that effectively that decisions relating to the design and possible collapse of the tunnels, “is not a proper matter” for the court to decide, the word arrogance comes to mind.
Earlier of course the Govt. gave HS2 the go-ahead despite the benefit cost ratio declining to 1.2:1, and that was BEFORE the virus disaster. When will Boris Johnson & Grant Shapps, (who are our employees), wake up and take on board that it is likely that all long distance travel will change for ever. However, regardless the Govt. is prepared to gamble £100bn.+ of our money, despite overwhelmng evidence that HS2 will NEVER pay its way.
Living near Euston, won’t you see most of the benefits of HS2? There will be enourmous capacity impovements to your local rail network as existing long distance traffic moves from the West Coast Main Line to HS2. HS2 will bring similar benefits to local communities all along the existing WCML. This will encourage more people along the line, including in your area, to travel by rail when they may have previously travelled by road. What is your problem with these improvements?