Bailiffs start evicting HS2 protesters from camp where Swampy and his pals secretly dug a 100ft tunnel near Euston station - as police move in to 'keep the peace'
- Bailiffs from HS2 have started evicting protesters from makeshift camp near London's Euston Station
- Activist Swampy and his pals have spent months digging 100ft underground tunnel near central station
- HS2 Rebellion set up Tree Protection Camp in Euston Square Gardens in September to thwart rail project
- They claim underground tunnel is their 'best defence' against eviction, which started this morning
- £170billion rail project has been slammed as 'expensive, wasteful and destructive', which HS2 bosses deny
Bailiffs today began evicting anti-HS2 protesters led by veteran activist Swampy from a makeshift camp near London's Euston Station, where they had spent months secretly digging a dangerous 100ft tunnel network.
HS2 Rebellion activists scaled cranes and clambered onto wooden platforms in the trees in Euston Square Gardens as enforcement officers moved to evict the environmentalists from the Tree Protection Camp, which was set up in September in protest against the £170billion rail project.
One protester was removed by enforcement agents and could be heard shouting as he was carried out from the makeshift camp by staff from the National Eviction Team, part of the High Court Enforcement group - while 'tree protectors' barricaded themselves in their tunnel, codenamed Calvin.
The protest group, which fears that HS2 will destroy the gardens by building a temporary taxi rank, claimed an 'illegal eviction' of the camp began shortly before 5am today and said that bailiffs from the National Eviction Team had 'entered the camp under cover of darkness'.
They accused HS2 of 'breaking the law by attempting an eviction without a court order and during the national coronavirus lockdown' and said they were 'prepared for a lengthy siege' as they continued digging tunnels at Euston Square Gardens despite the ongoing the eviction.
Though lawyers for the group have written to HS2 'advising them of the illegality of any such eviction attempt at this time', an HS2 spokeswoman blasted the 'illegal' occupation and said it presented a 'danger' to HS2 staff and High Court enforcement officers - while the Met Police said a number of officers were sent to the eviction site, but only to assist bailiffs should there be any breach of the peace.
One protester was removed by enforcement agents and could be heard shouting as he was carried out from the makeshift camp by staff from HS2's private contractor, the National Eviction Team
A police officer watches a protester that climbed on a crane, during an anti-HS2 demonstration in Euston Square Gardens
HS2 Rebellion protesters in a tree, part of an encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
Police officers wearing climbing equipment move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
HS2 Rebellion protesters in a tree, part of an encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
Activists stand in tree houses at their protest camp against the HS2 rail line, near Euston train station in central London
Police enforcement officers move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London, where HS2 Rebellion protesters have built a 100ft tunnel network, which they are ready to occupy, after claiming the garden is at risk from the HS2 line development
A bailiff works to remove activists from their protest camp against the HS2 rail line, near Euston train station
Police officers escort a protester who had been stood on top of a lorry blocking traffic near to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
A protester is removed, by police officers, from the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
Protestors at Euston Square Garden in central London as bailiffs evict them from their makeshift encampment
Enforcement agents enter a makeshift camp in Euston Square Gardens as HS2 claims an eviction is ongoing
Enforcement agents watch over a makeshift camp where activists demonstrate as others occupy tunnels near Euston Station
Enforcement officers remove items from an encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
Police enforcement officers move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London, where HS2 Rebellion protesters have built a 100ft tunnel network, which they are ready to occupy, after claiming the garden is at risk from the HS2 line development
Police officers watch a woman standing on top of a lorry blocking the traffic near to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
Enforcement agents work at a makeshift camp where HS2 Rebellion activists demonstrate
An HS2 Rebellion activist talks to a reporter at a makeshift camp as others occupy tunnels under Euston Square Gardens to protest against the HS2 high-speed railway in London
HS2 protesters have spent months secretly digging a 100ft underground tunnel near Euston station in central London. Pictured: Campaigner known as Blue, 18, below ground. Right, veteran activist Swampy
The HS2 rail project, which is set to link London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, and rebalance the UK's economy, has been called 'expensive, wasteful and destructive' by environmentalists.
Anti-HS2 protesters claim the line will destroy or irreparably damage 108 ancient woodlands and 693 wildlife sites, and that Euston Square Gardens will be built over with a temporary taxi rank before being sold off to developers.
They added that 'tree protectors' were prepared to occupy the tunnels, dug 'in secret' over the last few months, and would stay underground 'for as long as it takes to stop HS2'.
However, HS2 bosses insist that most ancient woodland will 'remain intact'. Responding to the Euston Gardens encampment, an HS2 spokesman said: 'Protests such as these are costly to the taxpayer and a danger to the safety of the protesters, HS2 staff, High Court enforcement officers and the general public, as well as putting unnecessary strain on the emergency services during the pandemic.'
The first phase of the rail link between London and Birmingham will not open until 2028 - while the second, to Manchester and Leeds, has been delayed until 2035-40.
HS2 Rebellion called on the Government to scrap the scheme 'before it is too late' and argued for a National Citizens Assembly to 'lead the way out of the climate and ecological emergency'.
One protester, Blue Sanford, 18, from London, said: 'I'm angry that the Government is still effectively ignoring this crisis despite declaring a climate and ecological emergency two years ago.
'I'm in this tunnel because they are irresponsibly putting my life at risk from the climate and ecological emergency. They are behaving in a way that is so reckless and unsafe that I don't feel they are giving us any option but to protest in this way to help save our own lives and the lives of all the people round the world.'
Howard Rees, who was evicted from the site by police early this morning said: 'The police cleared the site using Covid legislation early this morning so now there are only the people who are in the trees or in the tunnel.
'This was home for some of us since August, well before lockdown, so how the police could use this legislation we are not sure.'
The 40-year-old did not see any violence as police cleared the scene.
Video footage from inside, filmed by activists, shows a cramped, winding passage with wooden props against its walls. In some parts they can be seen removing loose earth with just a trowel.
A spokesman for the group said Swampy, real name Daniel Hooper, had been an 'invaluable source of expertise' in helping to dig the tunnel. The group said last night that it expects to face eviction 'imminently'.
It said tunnellers 'worked around the clock, using pickaxes, shovels, buckets and shifts of two to 12 people at a time'. The entrance is concealed by a 'fortified stronghold', complete with a tower built from pallets, which activists have nicknamed Buckingham Pallets.
Activists are living in a main chamber of the tunnel, with stashes of tinned food and vegetables stored along its length.
Blue told the BBC the tunnel was 'very dangerous and life threatening' but it was their 'best defence' against being evicted. 'It is not about us martyring ourselves, it is about delaying and stopping HS2,' he said. 'This is the only way I can effect change, I would sacrifice everything for the climate ecological emergency to not be happening.'
The spokeswoman for HS2 Ltd said: 'Illegal action such as this is costly to the taxpayer and a danger to the safety of the activists, HS2 staff, High Court enforcement officers and the general public, as well as putting unnecessary strain on the emergency services during the pandemic.
Police seal the entrance to Euston Square as police and security bailiffs evict the HS2 protest camp at around 5am today
Police speak to protestors evicted from the protest site as police and security guards evict protesters from the HS2 protest camp in Euston Square at around 5am today
Police speak to protestors evicted from the protest site as police and security guards evict protesters from the HS2 protest camp in Euston Square
Security guards seal the perimeter as police and security guards evict protesters
Bailiffs inside the perimeter of the square as police and security guards evict protesters from the HS2 protest camp
Bailiffs inside the perimeter of the square as police and security guards evict protesters from the HS2 protest camp
Police speak to protestors evicted from the protest site as police and security guards evict protesters from the HS2 protest camp in Euston Square
Activists remain on the roof of a structure inside the perimeter as police and security guards evict the HS2 protest camp in Euston Square at around 5am today
Activists remain on the roof of a structure inside the perimeter as police and security guards evict the HS2 protest camp in Euston Square at around 5am today
Two activists are seen scaling a structure in Euson Square Gardens at around 5am today
'Safety is our first priority when taking possession of land and removing illegal encampments.'
She said HS2 will provide 'a cleaner, greener way to travel, helping to cut the number of cars and lorries on our roads, reduce demand for domestic flights, and help the country to cut its carbon emissions in the fight against climate change'.
The spokeswoman added that HS2 has been approved by MPs on 'multiple occasions', will support Britain's economic recovery and is providing thousands of jobs.
Construction work started in September on Phase 1 of HS2 from London to Birmingham. Phase 2a is planned to run from Birmingham to Crewe, and Phase 2b from Crewe to Manchester, and from Birmingham to Leeds.
Police enforcement officers move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
Police enforcement officers move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London, where HS2 Rebellion protesters have built a 100ft tunnel network, which they are ready to occupy
Police enforcement officers move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London, where HS2 Rebellion protesters have built a 100ft tunnel network, which they are ready to occupy
Police enforcement officers move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
HS2 Rebellion, an alliance of groups and individuals campaigning against the planned high-speed railway, claim Euston Square Gardens, a green space outside Euston station, will be built over with a temporary taxi rank before being sold off to developers
The protest group said 'tree protectors' were prepared to occupy the tunnels, dug 'in secret' over the last few months, and stay underground 'for as long as it takes to stop HS2'
The encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London, where HS2 Rebellion protesters have built a 100ft tunnel network, which they are ready to occupy
Activists demonstrate at a makeshift camp on a tree as others occupy tunnels under Euston Square Gardens to protest against the HS2 high-speed railway in London
The Government-commissioned Oakervee Review considered a cost estimate for the project by an external consultant that put its final bill at £106.6 billion in fourth quarter of 2015 prices.
The review commissioned a comparative analysis of this estimate and those by HS2 Ltd and said characteristics of major rail infrastructure cost plans, according to evidence from Network Rail, were 'not evident' in the external estimate.
The review said it seemed amounts allocated towards major construction works were too low, and amounts allocated towards rail systems seemed too high.
Despite it running tens of billions of pounds over budget and several years behind schedule, Boris Johnson gave the green light for the railway in February 2020.
Activists demonstrate at a makeshift camp on a tree as others occupy tunnels under Euston Square Gardens to protest against the HS2 high-speed railway in London
Police enforcement officers move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
Police enforcement officers move in to the encampment in Euston Square Gardens in central London
HS2 Rebellion, an alliance of groups and individuals campaigning against the planned high-speed railway, claim Euston Square Gardens, a green space outside Euston station, will be built over with a temporary taxi rank before being sold off to developers
The group claim the tunnel, codenamed 'Kelvin', is 100ft long and has taken two months to dig
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2021-01-27 09:21:00Z
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