HS2 Rebellion demonstrators on Euston Garden site

• AS a person who has been against the HS2 rail folly from its inception, I cannot help but admire and be thankful for the sheer selfless courage of Dan Hooper (Swampy), Rory his 16-year-old son, Dr Larch Maxey, and all the other brave tunnelling and tree-saving protesters.

They are trying to prevent HS2 from destroying vast swathes of irreplaceable ancient forests and woodlands, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest, along with their wildlife and habitats.

It would be a travesty of justice if the protesters were to be prosecuted for trying to protect our environment, while the government, who claim to be environmentally friendly, continue to allow HS2 the freedom to carry on desolating the pristine ecology throughout the country.

The protests remind us of the madness of this rail scheme which has already wreaked havoc on the people of Camden, turning Euston into a wasteland as it continues to inflict widespread misery on the people by forcing many from their homes with little compensation; and those who do remain must endure constant high levels of noise and air pollution.

Almost from day one this HS2 project quickly turned into a white elephant with its cost continuing to spiral out of control. But this government continue digging this bottomless pit into which billions in taxpayers’ money are poured.

The cost estimate is now some £108billion and still no one from the government is willing to attach a final price tag. However, in terms of years and costs, we know we have barely begun as the project is not due to be completed until 2040.

My guess is it will end up costing the taxpayer around £300billion; a staggering amount to pay for a railway which may not even reach a “high-speed” category and will only shave off 25 minutes from the existing line.

At the same time as the government pour billions into this devastating project, thousands of families are forced to queue at food banks, and the poorest and most vulnerable on universal credit are being warned that £20 may soon be deducted from their benefits.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to invest this money in green jobs and clean energy rather than waste it on this runaway train project?

MIKE GEORGE
Queen’s Crescent, NW5