Chris Packham has launched legal action against Boris Johnson’s plans to go ahead with controversial HS2. The conservationist argues it’s “unlawful” because the decision to go ahead relied on the Government-commissioned Oakervee review process, which did not take into account the full environmental costs. Mr Packham said the review is “compromised, incomplete and flawed”. He said: “In the year of COP 26, it’s time for Boris Johnson to be held accountable. For now, we have won on Heathrow. "The climate impact of HS2 is incompatible with any Net Zero Emissions target and will allow the large-scale expansion of airports instead of Heathrow. "We must not allow HS2 to be Boris’ fast-track to expanding aviation elsewhere in the UK. “Our government has failed. I believe the review central to the mandate to proceed was seriously flawed in its methods. I believe that essential submissions regarding environmental concerns were ignored by the review panel. “As a consequence, the Oakervee review is compromised, incomplete and flawed and thus the decision to proceed based upon it is unlawful. “Today some of us are making a last stand for nature and the environment and we will not go quietly into any good night.” The Springwatch presenter believes that HS2 will damage or destroy almost 700 wildlife sites, including over 100 Ancient Woodlands, and the climate impact of HS2 is expected to be incompatible with any Net Zero emissions target because the line will facilitate the large-scale expansion of airports across the UK. He has instructed his lawyers at Leigh Day to take legal action against the government. In September 2019, the 58-year-old campaigner threatened legal action against the Transport Secretary’s decision to allow HS2 Ltd to press on with enabling works that would have caused irreparable damage to at least 13 Ancient Woodlands along the Phase 1 HS2 route before the Prime Minister decided whether the project should proceed at all. The Transport Secretary conceded the challenge before it got to court and works at Ancient Woodlands were paused. Tom Short, solicitor at law firm Leigh Day, said: “The Government committed to base its decision of whether and how to proceed with HS2 on the output of a review that the public was assured would be rigorous and independent and would consider all the existing evidence and the full range of the costs of the project. “Our client considers that the review has failed to meet those promised standards. He argues that the flawed process of the review means that environmental impacts relevant to the decision whether to proceed have not been properly assessed. In a time of unprecedent ecological catastrophe, he is clear that the law, and moral logic, require the Government to think again.” Chris Packham launches legal action against 'unlawful' HS2 plans Chris Packham,Boris Johnson,Tom Short,Springwatch,Politics
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