Wow, Johnson and the Tories do a good thing and large elements of the Left and some Greens are very pissed off. It is worth reading the original report by the Wildlife Trusts, here - https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/hs2-exorbitant-cost-nature
I have never supported HS2 because it has significant environmental costs for a country (England) that has very depleted high quality habitat for wildlife. For example, HS2 would destroy 108 ancient woodlands, these are irreplaceable. Habitats that cannot be remade. Additionally, HS2 would fragment habitat making it much less viable. HS2 also has a social cost in lost housing and disruption to peoples' lives. It is arguable that the time for this project is already long past, the presumed climate benefits too late and delayed in arriving to effectively mitigate the climate costs of its construction.
The stated advantages all presume an economic model of continued growth and increasing wealth and prosperity for the people of England. It is true that whilst a limited number of the population would use HS2 it would increase overall rail capacity. So, the argument goes, there would be benefits for all. However, this argument presumes a willingness to shift freight carriage from road to rail. It is argued that the project would reduce the use of internal flights, which it would, but is there a cost/benefit balance as HS2 was only proposed to go as far north as Leeds and Manchester, and nowhere west. If it did kill off the internal airlines it would disadvantage a proportion of the population too.
Why not just travel less? A fraction of the financial cost of HS2 would provide reliable, high speed broadband for everyone in the UK. HS2 is mostly designed for the business community. A community that has learned to travel less of late. Why not a four day working week? It's been shown to work well, increase productivity and reduce travel. Why not more working from home, we've learned to do that recently also.
As usual Keir Starmer's initial response was to try a bit of unconvincing political point scoring. I still cannot understand why the Labour Party (of which I was a member for quite a time, but a long, long time ago) chose KS to be their leader. I don't believe the party is misogynist but there were some very capable female candidates for the job. Labour has never elected a woman as leader. I digress.
I am pleased about today's decision, it will save a number of wonderful places from the chainsaw and the bulldozer.
Just don't get me started on that other love child of this element of the Left/Green community - nuclear power. Oh fuck! I've mentioned it now.... Bye-bye Minsmere? https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/casework/cases/sizewell-c/ I know, lets put a nuclear power station on low-lying land by the sea. Climate change, 3 degree rise, impacts, "Oh, it will be fine."
No it won't. But you've already forgotten about that little problem over in Japan. Chernobyl No4, "Well, we're not like those incompetent Soviets..." (I'm old enought to remember the panic about that wee mishap.)
Toodle along to here - https://www.floodmap.net/ and set the water level rise to 1metre, oops!
I'm being glib, but this is all scary as fuck.
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