mop denson

@HS2ltd @transportgovuk You may recall that @stophs2 spoke out way before the project was given the green light warning that the costs for #HS2 had been underestimated and benefits overestimated. Ultra High Speed defined the route and has cost the taxpayer so much ££££££ more.

Justine Greening 2012 #HS2: 'A high speed line will deliver £6.2 billion more in benefits to the country than a line running at conventional speeds, at an extra cost of only £1.4 billion' - 2026 HS2 to look at reducing speed to cut costs... gov.uk/government/spe…

@HS2ltd @transportgovuk gov.uk/government/spe… #HS2

@HS2ltd @transportgovuk #HS2 route pushed through Parliament with 'speed' central to the business case. Now, it is clear that the justification to dig up the Chilterns (AONB) National Landscape was flawed (to put it politely). IT MATTERS!!! 🦔🌳🦉

The Times 'The HS2 money train revealed — who’s made billions?' : It looks like @RachelReevesMP was barking up the wrong tree when pointing the finger at newts and bats... #HS2 thetimes.com/uk/transport/a…

@MATatBucks Yes

The ‘bats myth’ is wheeled out but the reality is a failed project from beginning to end.

#HS2 Odd ministers don’t mention waste like the £30m+ on a failed rail college (closed in 2023), the cross-party support that never faltered, or the reviews that were delayed, ignored, or quietly shelved. - No, it’s the bats what done it. Shocking @RachelReevesMP @Heidi_Labour

The Independent: #HS2 In July 2023 Mark Thurston resigned after six years as chief executive, during which he earned a total of £4,495,408 msn.com/en-gb/news/ukn…

#HS2 It's important to remember that campaigners pointed out BEFORE the green light was given to the original scheme that £32billion was not a realistic budget. Now it's more than £100bn for a fraction of the line promised. £100bn to Birmingham is a total scandal. @StopHS2

#HS2 - Every warning ignored! Every concern ridiculed! Every reckless decision defended by Government! HS2 was supported by the two main parties - they ought to hang their heads in shame! #Labour #Conservatives @Heidi_Labour

@frances_cutler @HS2ltd Thanks Frances. Lots of local voices on this over the years.

@mopdenson None of this would have happened without local work by people like you Mop. As I remember, in the first instance, @HS2ltd were going to chop down ALL the Leather Lane oaks. At a recent drop in they even had a picture of Ilona the oak tree as if she were their idea!!!

I campaigned for better wildlife connections around & across the HS2 line in the Chilterns NL. I'm pleased to say that bats played a crucial role in securing a green bridge! Well done to ALIGN for listening (their drawing below) and for designing the Leather Lane green bridge.

Improvements to the design of HS2 viaducts in the Chilterns should not have had to be fought for either. Again HS2 Ltd failed to plan for a project that delivered in it's form as well as it's function. HS2 Ltd should thank campaigners & the construction companies for their input.

The Chilterns Tunnel (whilst sadly not the full length of the N.Landscape) was rightly implemented to help conserve the area.Campaigners should not be blamed for the mismanagement of HS2 & the problems that 'HS2Ltd' have caused for the project. Desktop studies failed to deliver.

I'm sure there will always be tension between infrastructure ambition & environmental protection. I'm glad I spoke out about HS2's design & the changes I thought should be made. Plans for the Chilterns NL section improved with better environmental outcomes (Mantles Wood - saved)

As predicted, #HS2 has unraveled—billions over budget, years behind schedule, and leaving behind environmental devastation. But as the project's vision collapses, the promised environmental mitigation must not be discarded. #StopHS2

@transportgovuk @HS2Ltd This has been the most poorly run major infrastructure project ever - it's official. Communities and National Landscapes must not now suffer a downgrade in the mitigation/compensation for damage caused by this appallingly run project #HS2 @gregsmith_uk

@transportgovuk @HS2ltd The public deserves transparency. What steps are you taking to rebuild trust in HS2? Current costs and expected benefits seem far removed from the original promises. #Accountability #HS2 @gregsmith_uk

#HS2 : The UK taxpayer deserves to know why time and time again warnings about the project were ignored. Numbers appeared to be plucked from the air - some might say completely made up. youtu.be/VVz-BW9yhS0?si…