Proposed Birmingham to London High Speed Rail Link
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is concerned about the proposed route
for the new Birmingham to London High Speed Rail Link.
Precise detail of the route, its design and how it will be
implemented is as yet unclear.
The Trust is concerned about:
- Whether or not the proposed link offers a
genuinely sustainable solution, as financial, social and
environmental impacts do not seem to have been fully
evaluated.
- The impact of the route on existing
biodiversity sites and whether the route could isolate important
habitats and restrict or act as a barrier to the movement of
certain species.
Stephen Trotter, Chief Executive of the
Trust said: "Whilst in principle we would welcome better public
transport and rail links as an alternative to air travel between
Birmingham and London; there are still lots of unanswered questions
about the environmental impacts that the route might have on
wildlife habitats and the wider landscape - we're worried that it
could have an irreversible impact. Nor are we really clear
that the proposed rail link is really necessary or justified from a
business point of view. I look forward to the Trust being
consulted over the preparation of an Environmental Impact
Assessment and until we've seen further details about how
biodiversity and landscape will be protected and enhanced, we
remain highly concerned by this proposal."
Ends