Dozen of planes near central London station to be felled in preparation for high-speed rail link development

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A protesting priest has been voluntarily unchained from one of 200 trees around Euston that HS2 is felling in preparation for the high-speed rail line.



The Rev Anne Stevens, the vicar of neighbouring St Pancras church, was padlocked and fastened with a heavy-duty chain to a doomed century-old London plane tree.

Stevens said it was a “symbolic act” and she did not expect to stay to block construction work. HS2 Ltd said it had no plans to forcibly remove the vicar before Monday, when it takes possession of the land and starts to seal off Euston Square Gardens.

The park in front of Euston station contains dozens of giant London planes, which will be cut down to provide space for construction vehicles and a temporary taxi rank.

Chained alongside Stevens was Jo Hurford, 46, a local parishioner and artist. Asked if she would repeat the protest when construction workers moved in, she said: “We aren’t ruling anything out.”

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Construction work to redevelop and expand Euston for high-speed trains is expected to last up to 17 years, adding to congestion and pollution in the area.

Stevens said: “We’ve been to parliament, committees, endless meetings, it’s a last attempt to hope HS2 will see reason. I don’t entirely oppose the project but the way it’s been brought in here is devastating, and has enraged the local community.

“This green space until now has offered some respite. The people losing this space are in the middle of a construction project which will have an enormous impact on air quality and their health. There is something soul-destroying about seeing so many trees lost.”

Protesters accused HS2 and the government of conducting a land grab of the surrounding area, with subsequent redevelopment helping to pay for the £55bn high-speed rail network. Nearby St James Gardens, a park and a former burial ground behind the station, has been taken by HS2, and dozens of trees cut down.

HS2: service held for 60,000 to be exhumed at Euston burial ground Read more

John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace UK, was also among the protesters. He said the design of HS2 was causing unnecessary environmental damage: “These are beautiful trees in one of the most polluted areas of London. The HS2 line itself is threatening 100 ancient woodlands. Environmental arguments were made to switch to rail, instead of domestic flights. All we are seeing now is airport expansion and HS2.”

HS2 has promised to plant more trees and to enhance some local public space, but residents fear the park will also be lost in the building of the rail network linking London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.

A spokesperson said HS2 would create a green corridor of new woodland and habitats along the route. He said: “Supporting the natural environment is just as important to us as building stations, regenerating city centres and supporting the economy.

“HS2 will provide much-needed extra capacity at Euston … while also creating thousands of jobs and acting as a catalyst for economic growth across the UK.”