Children given HS2 balloons in Camden Square

• A FEW months ago HS2 announced that part of its enormous public relations budget up north would be directed at primary schoolchildren.

On Sunday at the Camden Square Festival in Camden Town, I was surprised to find that HS2 were targeting children in Camden.

My photo (above) shows HS2 so-called “engagement” staff masquerading as “community members” entertaining children in the biggest stall in the festival.

Their paper cut-out-to-fold origami high speed trains didn’t go down too well with savvy Camden kids. But HS2’s inexhaustible budget for coloured balloons (coupled with a lot of HS2 puff) saved the day.

And a few “lucky” children emerged from the HS2 tent proudly clutching balloons advertising “HS2 in Euston”… as young ambassadors for HS2… spreading the word that HS2 are reformulating the design of the Euston terminus to reflect the aspirations of the community. Don’t believe a word of it.

JEFF TRAVERS
Euston Design