Environmental activists campaigning against Britain's planned high-speed rail project were ordered to vacate the tunnels they built near one of London's busiest stations.
Mr Justice Knowles said it was “very dangerous” for the nine activists to inhabit the tunnels near Euston rail station.
Campaigners against the high-speed HS2 rail link, which will run from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and eventually to Scotland, say it will destroy ancient woodlands.
The HS2 Rebellion group have been camping in front of Euston Station for several months and secretly dug what members described as "a network of tunnels" under a nearby public garden.
They were ordered to leave the venue after an appeal by the protesters on Monday to the High Court failed.
Mr Justice Knowles said any evacuation operation implemented by HS2 should carefully consider the opinions of Peter Faulding, a tunnel expert advising the protesters.
The group, including Dr Larch Maxey who is named in the court appeal, contend that the HS2 eviction team has not properly considered protesters’ safety.
Representing the activists John Cooper QC said: “The judge ordered that our clients should receive full access to legal advice, which until now has been impossible. A member of our team received a Covid fine when he tried to get access to the protesters previously.
“The judge also ordered that HS2 must consider the observations of the clients’ tunnel extraction expert Peter Faulding, a foremost expert in the field who has called for extraction works to be reviewed to avoid possible risk of harm to the protesters.”
An HS2 representative said: "If Dr Maxey does not comply with the order to leave the tunnel or the other obligations he will now be in contempt of court, punishable by a fine, up to two years in prison or both.
“We urge Dr Maxey to comply with the order as soon as possible – for his safety and the safety of his fellow activists and the HS2 and emergency personnel tasked with removing the illegal trespassers.”
HS2 Rebellion said its 30-metre tunnel network, codenamed ‘Calvin’, was dug over a period of months by activists who worked concealed behind a "fortified stronghold" made out of pallets, nicknamed ‘Buckingham Pallets’.
The group claims that the rail project will “destroy” 108 ancient woodlands and lead to “countless people being forced from” homes and businesses.
HS2 said that only 43 ancient woodlands would be affected by the railway's route between London and Crewe in northern England, with 80 per cent of their area remaining intact.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
More on animal trafficking
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
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