Lidington threatens resignation as HS2 bill forges ahead

The HS2 bill passed its second reading in the Commons yesterday by 452 to 41 votes, a majority of 411.

MPs threw out a proposal by Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan for the plan to be halted by a majority of 401. Fifty MPs backed Gillan’s motion. She told the Commons:

"I started as a nimby but I have looked at this project and I do not believe it is the best answer to the UK's transport problems."

Among those missing from the debate was Aylesbury MP David Lidington – as Minister for Europe he was visiting Estonia. Before the vote, he told the Bucks Herald:

“I have decided to abstain, but I have been and remain opposed to HS2, I’ve fought alongside campaigns and the Prime Minister knows my views. The key test for me is, given there is a massive cross-party majority in favour of this scheme, can we get the generous and fair mitigation that the local area deserves?

Lidington said he would resign as a minister at the third reading of the HS2 bill if mitigation is inadequate:

“I will resign at a later stage of the bill if they don’t get mitigation, and that for me includes a Chilterns tunnel.”

Wildlife Trusts set out mitigation vision for HS2

The Wildlife Trusts have published a report setting out a vision for large-scale nature restoration along the proposed high speed route. The Trusts say that the impacts and mitigation measures for line have not been properly assessed and there will be a net loss of biodiversity from Phase 1. They say with effective mitigation, the line could create "a wild green ribbon from London to the north." 

In the Colne Valley, 19 hectares of semi-natural broadleaved woodland, scrub, wetland and grassland will be replaced by just 3 hectares of compensatory habitat – a net loss of 16 hectares.

An earlier report from the University of Leeds for the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) found that the line could lead to local extinction of colonies of the Bechstein’s bat, a protected species, in the Bernwood Forest.

The report sets out an environmental, social and economic case for the government to properly address the impact on wildlife and ecosystems. Mitigation would use less than 1% of the current HS2 budget (£420 million) and the benefits of new areas for wildlife and people would outweigh the costs.  

The Trusts still oppose the line and support the proposals by the Chilterns Conservation Board for a bored tunnel through all of the AONB. However, if the line was to go ahead, with effective mitigation, the project could create “a wild green ribbon from London to the north.” Opportunities for habitat recreation and enhancement undertaken as part of the HS2 programme could be linked to wider efforts by partners to “build ecological connectivity at a larger scale beyond the tracks.”