Posted 7th August 2014 | 6 Comments
High Court dismisses HS2 protestors
THE High Court has dismissed a petition for a Judicial Review of HS2, rejecting claims by HS2 Action Alliance and the London Borough of Hillingdon that the Government had failed to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment under the European ‘SEA Directive’ before making safeguarding the route.
Mr Justice Lindblom concluded that the Safeguarding Directions were not a plan or programme that set the framework for development consent and therefore the Department for Transport was not required to undertake an SEA before making those Directions. In his judgement, he explained: “Applying the principles identified by the Supreme Court … I find it impossible to conclude that the safeguarding directions fall within the scope of …. the SEA Directive.”
Transport minister Robert Goodwill said: “The High Court has once again dismissed a Judicial Review in respect of HS2. I invite interested groups to work with us through the Parliamentary process on making HS2 the very best it can be, and not to waste money on costly and fruitless court cases.
“The project had a huge vote of support in Parliament, recognising the importance of HS2 for the long term economy of the country. It will provide jobs, skills and free up space on our congested network for more trains and more passengers.”
The DfT added: "The HS2 programme continues as planned. HS2 is a vital part of the Government’s long term economic plan, providing jobs, skills and extra space for more trains and more passengers to travel on our congested rail network. We will continue the crucial business of getting HS2 ready for construction in 2017.
"The Government is determined to minimise the environmental impacts that go with a major infrastructure project of this kind. HS2 Ltd has committed to limit noise impacts, to plant 4 million trees, to link important habitats together and seek to achieve no net loss to biodiversity."
However, the protestors may lodge an appeal. Hillingdon Council leader Ray Puddifoot said that the ruling "flew in the face of what we would think justice to be".
In a related development, the transport secretary may announce today that Crossrail services could be extended through north London to several stations in west Hertfordshire.
It's reported that Patrick McLoughlin will use the occasion of a visit to Farringdon to say that Crossrail trains may also serve a number of stations on the West Coast suburban route including Harrow & Wealdstone, Watford Junction, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring.
Such a development would serve to take some pressure off Euston during a crucial period of reconstruction in preparation for HS2.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
Roshan, Leeds
Tony Pearce, you mention the Wildlife Trusts' proposal for natural development along HS2 - is there any way this could be implemented?
I would also like to see HS2 go through an existing transport corridor in the Chilterns. Hopefully that would decrease the need for tunnels too.
Michael, Reading
I have lived most of the 5 decades of my life in the UK and in that time I have, (I think I have) passed through the Chilterns perhaps a 100 times.
To be brutally frank and honest, I would not be able to tell if a photograph was of the Chilterns of the South Downs or some wee hills in Wales or Scotland. Outstanding Natural beauty?? OH Please, the Grand Tetons are Outstanding, the Chilterns are a few remnants of glacial retreat from the peak of the last Ice Age. Additionally everything that is on the Chilterns is MAN MADE Scenery! If it was AU NATURAL, the entire area would be covered with a virgin forest that was SO THICK you could not walk but 1km per day at most through it.
If these No In My Little Englander's (NIMLE's) really want to promote the Grand Glorious Chilterns - they would insist HS2 be built above the terrain so every passenger on the trains could look out the windows and see their so called Grand Scenery.
What is the most Scenic railway in all of the UK? The west highland line, the one featured in Harry Potter films. How many people from all over the world travel to Scotland just to ride that train! Lots.
Bury the railway in a trench or tunnels and all the NIMLE's can continue to live in the 16th Century.
Adam, Birmingham
The only winners in all these court processes would appear to be the lawyers themselves who must be making a financial mint. I wonder how many of them live in the Chilterns?
James, London
Extending Cross rail by adding branches will only serve to reduce the available capacity on the existing route. They're going to need to dig another central section if this goes ahead.
(Not necessarily so -- see my response about Paddington terminators on this page.--Editor.)
Tony Pearce, Reading
The line and its route is probably 'done and dusted'. Most Environmental Charities I belong to are working to secure more Environmental Benefits. The Wildlife Trusts have recognised that no-one will want to live near the line, and this gives the opportunity for a 'Wildlife Corridor' to be established either side, - if the Government agrees. I still believe that we could have a few more stations on the line and this would help increase Passenger Capacity in the South-East. I am also convinced that the line will have to have 'Book-ahead' tickets and Passengers 'registered' in Advance of travelling for security reasons.
Roger, Darlington
Where would the proposed Crossrail extension join the existing line? Old Oak Common would seem to be the logical place. However what would be the effect on the path availability through central London? It seems to me that this would just relieve the WCML at the expense of reduced effectiveness of Crossrail. Any other suggestions?
(It has since emerged that the WCML Crossrail services would be extensions of some of the currently-planned Paddington terminators, so the core would not be affected.--Editor.)