Letter: Not the time to be building HS2

SIR – It is atrocious in this contemporary era of environmental consciousness that this potential project HS2 is being built at the cost of pristine ancient and precious woodlands and the habitats that they provide.

The benefits that it may bring are very debatable. The article (A&T online, 2nd April) reports an estimate that there will be £92bn worth of benefits. How is this predicted with any assurance of accuracy?

The end cost of large projects always greatly exceeds estimates, so can we expect to see the final cost 50% more?

There is also a claim that it will reduce use of cars. Trains are rarely a viable alternative to private motor vehicles as the cost of train travel is for each person. A car carrying perhaps five people costs only a fraction more than if only the driver is traveling.

Also luggage can make a train journey much more difficult and obviously a car goes from door to door.

In any case, the current pandemic and its negative economic effect will strain this country’s prosperity for years to come.

To use more than £100bn to provide a dubious asset with the loss of ancient, priceless woodlands is an investment we would be fools to consider and would regret for a very long time!

Wayne Teagle,

Address supplied