Campaigner wins right to bring case against "potentially lethal" HS2 design

Mrs Justice Lang DBE yesterday gave Ms Hero Granger-Taylor permission to proceed with the Judicial Review claim she has been fighting for since June 2019.

HS2 Ltd have been ordered to furnish within 21 days the evidence in response to the claim, which in the seven months since proceedings began they have failed to provide.

The judge considered Ms Granger-Taylor’s claim to be arguable on the grounds that HS2 Ltd’s Three Tunnels Design impacts on her rights under Article 8 (right to respect for one’s family life and home) and Article 1 and Protocol 1 (right to peaceful enjoyment of their possessions).

HS2 Ltd’s Three Tunnel Design has added greatly to the stress experienced by local residents.

An expert report conducted by the specialist railway engineer Colin Elliff has revealed the Design could cause a huge 10-metre high, 120-year-old wall to collapse into the new tunnels below or onto the existing West Coast main line, potentially crushing railway passengers. Evidence shows the unstable retaining wall causing 130 tonnes per metre of pressure downwards onto the proposed 9m wide tunnel just 1.5m below.

The report supports the notion that HS2 Ltd’s Three Tunnels Design isa hugely dangerous proposal which causes risk to life. At the same time, any collapse could cause serious damage to the houses in Park Village East. The properties affected are Grade2* Listed Buildings which form part of the John Nash design plans for Regent’s Park.

Joe Rukin, Campaign Manager of Stop HS2 said:

"For ten years, HS2 Ltd have said there will be no problems designing a solution at Euston station, but despite their insistence that they have it all in hand, they have had to be dragged into court to force them to publish plans which should have been in the public domain years ago. The reason HS2 Ltd haven't published their safe, workable and affordable design for Euston that fulfils all the promises they have made about passenger services is simple, there isn't one and there never has been because it can't be done, and they now have three weeks to admit this."

Jayesh Kunwardia, Partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, who represents Ms Granger-Taylor, said: “Understandably, we and Ms Granger-Taylor are delighted with the result of the hearing. The judge recognises our claim that the Three Tunnels Design is a potentially lethal proposal and of great concern to the local residents. This latest outcome may result in HS2 Ltd taking the view that the Three Tunnels Design is unworkable and therefore being forced to reconsider the entire scheme.”

Ms Granger-Taylor, who lives half a mile from Euston Station, said: “People in the Euston area have now suffered for ten years the huge uncertainty which the HS2 Ltd scheme has brought with it. It is a real relief to have been vindicated by the law. I am heartened that this decision will have thrown a small spanner into the works of the behemoth which is HS2 Ltd. The lives and properties of those near to Euston cannot just be ignored and we demand proof of basic safety measures so that no lives are at risk.”

The return hearing will take place in May 2020.

Counsel for Ms Granger-Taylor is Christopher Jacobs at Landmark Chambers.

Ms Granger-Taylor is attempting to fund the judicial review challenge through Crowd Justice. Donations can be made at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/hs2accountability/