There are many objections about the costs of the HS2 project many of them eye-wateringly obvious.
But above all, protesters are saying that the work will irreparably damage fragile local wildlife.
There is now an occupation underway at Colne Valley and it is the first of a rolling programme of direct actions set to take place along the route of the controversial HS2 development.
Protesters are determined to stop HS2.
While parliament has already approved an act for HS2 to go ahead and the Act of Parliament has received Royal consent, the protesters hope to engage opposition assistance across the political spectrum.
Activists have circulated callouts on social media for tents, tarpaulins, climbing gear, warm clothes, bedding and food.
One of the environmental protesters, Pete Phoenix, said: “This development is going to take out a lot of ancient woodland and pollute the water in the lakes in this area. Nobody wants HS2. It’s a Tory white elephant.”
Advocates of the scheme say that when it is completed it will be the fastest rail network in Europe with trains able to carry 1,100 passengers travelling at 250mph. However, the cost of the development is escalating and it has been billed as the most expensive railway development in the world. The first phase alone is costing £24bn and is forecast to rise to a whopping £104bn for the whole scheme.
How long will high speed rail take to transport you to Crewe?
Well, at the time of writing, approximately 13 years and 58 minutes!
Sir David Higgins has called for the construction of the second northern stage of the line to start at a similar time as the southern section from London to Birmingham. This would mean that travellers would be able to travel on the train from the capital to Crewe in just 55 minutes as early as 2027.
HS2 should reach northern cities such as Manchester and Leeds by 2032 or 2033, with phase one of the network to Birmingham opening in 2026.
UNLESS WE STOP IT.
