“Ancient woodland should be treated with particular care. HS2 will damage some woodlands, and where that happens, compensation measures should be much higher than the level indicated in the calculation that HS2 Ltd will use. That metric needs to be looked at again.” Parliamentary scrutiny The HS2 Hybrid Bill will be given its second reading on 28 April, after which it will be referred to a dedicated select committee to examine ‘petitions’ against it. The Committee criticise the procedure’s fail to fully address the requirements of EU and national directives on environmental assessments, which it wants to be at least partly rectified in the forthcoming Parliamentary proceedings. Joan Walley MP said: “So far the consultation process on HS2 has not fully addressed the many environmental concerns we have. It is imperative that Parliament itself now takes on that role. Our report will inform the second reading debate on 28th April. But looking beyond that, we will make sure that the committee examining petitions against HS2’s environmental damage get properly scrutinised.” Ancient woodland Because of its biodiversity value, loss of ancient woodland has permanent adverse effect on the natural environment. While compensation measures are necessary, and should be increased further than is currently planned, compensatory measures for ancient woodland should not count in the calculation of overall ‘no net biodiversity loss’. Damage to ancient woodland, an irreplaceable resource, also raises the questions of proper application of the environmental ‘mitigation hierarchy’: compensation measures should only be implemented as a last resort, if adverse effects cannot be avoided or mitigated. The Committee calls upon Parliament to ensure that the mitigation hierarchy will be followed fully. ‘Reasonable’ and ‘practicable’ measures The HS2 Environmental Statement, and its associated documents and plans, do provide a degree of environmental protection by adopting minimum requirements and standards. But these commitments are weakened by clauses stating that any adjustments made by HS2 have to be ‘reasonable’ and ‘practicable’. Lack of a ring-fenced budget for environmental protection fuels fears of cutting corners if the overall budget needs to be brought down. Background info HS2 is a £50 billion project to build a Y-shaped high speed railway link from London to Manchester and Leeds via Birmingham. Phase One of the scheme (to open in 2026)
“Ancient woodland should be treated with particular care. HS2 will damage some woodlands, and where that happens, compensation measures should be much higher than the level indicated in the calculation that HS2 Ltd will use. That metric needs to be looked at again.” Parliamentary scrutiny The HS2 Hybrid Bill will be given its second reading on 28 April, after which it will be referred to a dedicated select committee to examine ‘petitions’ against it. The Committee criticise the procedure’s fail to fully address the requirements of EU and national directives on environmental assessments, which it wants to be at least partly rectified in the forthcoming Parliamentary proceedings. Joan Walley MP said: “So far the consultation process on HS2 has not fully addressed the many environmental concerns we have. It is imperative that Parliament itself now takes on that role. Our report will inform the second reading debate on 28th April. But looking beyond that, we will make sure that the committee examining petitions against HS2’s environmental damage get properly scrutinised.” Ancient woodland Because of its biodiversity value, loss of ancient woodland has permanent adverse effect on the natural environment. While compensation measures are necessary, and should be increased further than is currently planned, compensatory measures for ancient woodland should not count in the calculation of overall ‘no net biodiversity loss’. Damage to ancient woodland, an irreplaceable resource, also raises the questions of proper application of the environmental ‘mitigation hierarchy’: compensation measures should only be implemented as a last resort, if adverse effects cannot be avoided or mitigated. The Committee calls upon Parliament to ensure that the mitigation hierarchy will be followed fully. ‘Reasonable’ and ‘practicable’ measures The HS2 Environmental Statement, and its associated documents and plans, do provide a degree of environmental protection by adopting minimum requirements and standards. But these commitments are weakened by clauses stating that any adjustments made by HS2 have to be ‘reasonable’ and ‘practicable’. Lack of a ring-fenced budget for environmental protection fuels fears of cutting corners if the overall budget needs to be brought down. Background info HS2 is a £50 billion project to build a Y-shaped high speed railway link from London to Manchester and Leeds via Birmingham. Phase One of the scheme (to open in 2026)
Env-Audit-SC-Press-notice.docx