'HS2 has cut our village in half. Daily life has become a nightmare'
Nestled in the Warwickshire countryside, Burton Green is a quintessential English village, its history stretching back to the 1500s.
Yet, this serene community of around 600 residents now finds itself cleaved in two by the construction of the 700-metre Burton Green Tunnel, part of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project.
Images reveal a landscape transformed from its previous picturesque scenery, with heavy machinery and a sprawling construction site slicing through the village's heart, with locals calling it an 'eyesore building site.'
For many, life has become a 'daily nightmare,' with vibrating homes, dust-covered gardens, and the roar of machinery disrupting the rural tranquility.
Over the past five years, some residents have moved away, while those who remain grapple with the destruction of surrounding countryside.
Yet, the HS2 project, of which the Burton Green Tunnel is a key component, promises significant benefits that extend far beyond Warwickshire's borders.
Designed to connect London and the West Midlands, HS2 aims to slash journey times – cutting the Birmingham to London trip from 1 hour 21 minutes to just 49 minutes – while boosting rail capacity and fostering economic growth.
The project is touted as a catalyst for regional prosperity, creating jobs, upskilling workers, and injecting an estimated £10 billion into the West Midlands economy over a decade.
The Burton Green Tunnel itself, one of five eco-conscious 'green tunnels' on the route, will be topped with trees and shrubs to blend into the landscape, aiming to mitigate its environmental footprint.
As construction reaches its halfway mark, Burton Green residents have spoken out about the changes to their home as a result of HS2.
Grandmother-of-one Eileen Thompson, 77, a retired secretary, has lived in Burton Green for six years.
She said the work has been 'absolutely horrendous from the start' and claims her house has vibrated while work has been going on.
Thompson said: 'The dust, the dirt, the noise – all the diversions and road closures, it has literally split our village in two…
'We had three weeks of them blasting concrete posts out they had erected wrong and the noise and dirt from that was appalling.'
Thompson said as well as the 'destruction of the greenery', the scenery has changed dramatically, with walkways and a Victoria railway now replaced by 'mess'.
Hitting out at HS2, she said empty properties had been bought and knocked down, adding: 'It is just disgraceful how it has been planned and executed and I can't even see who its really going to be benefit.
'We're just going to end up with a shuttle train between Birmingham and London that doesn't quite go all the way into Birmingham or all the way into London.
'It is a waste of billions of pounds of our money and I think it will eventually be known one of the biggest scandals in Britain.'
Other residents say they are concerned that house prices, which currently average around £500,000, could plummet by as much as £100,000.
Dad-of-two Phil Fairclough, 55, said: 'When the plans were announced there was all this talk saying we could be the worst-affected by HS2.
'And if you look around here now I don't think you could argue that – we've had our little village bisected by a railway line nobody here wants.
'I've had friends move out, it's divided and torn a community up. It's an eyesore building site. We think house prices will drop by around £100,000 at least.'
A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said they were 'working hard to reduce disruption' during the construction of the Burton Green Tunnel, and said that they have provided a new village hall for the community, as well as vowing to return much of the village to its former glory.
The spokesperson added: 'Excavated soil is being reused for nearby landscaping to avoid putting extra lorries on local roads and help blend the structure into the surrounding countryside.
'Once complete, the tunnel will shield neighbouring homes from noise and disturbance, with a new public green space for residents to enjoy.
'The existing Kenilworth greenway cycle and footpath will be reinstated along with new landscaping and tree planting to boost biodiversity and create new wildlife habitats.'
HS2's new chief executive, Mark Wild, appointed in December last year, warned that the project faces a 'very serious situation' and needs a 'fundamental reset.' However, last month he insisted the project has 'great value, intrinsic value', adding: 'HS2 will prove its worth'.
He was speaking after the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said that HS2 is an example of 'how not to run a major project' and the government 'must not waste' its latest opportunity to reset the programme. In its damning report, the PAC said HS2 Ltd – the government-owned company responsible for building the high-speed railway – and the DfT have 'failed to work together effectively'.
The DfT's estimated cost of HS2 in November 2023 was in the range of £45 billion to £54 billion, while HS2 Ltd's latest estimate in June 2024 was between £54 billion and £66 billion. However, all these figures were in 2019 prices and once adjusted for inflation, the cost 'might be close to £80 billion', according to the report.
Earlier this month, Buckinghamshire Council rejected HS2's plan for an underground chamber and ditch in Wendover to manage groundwater, potentially delaying the Wendover Green Tunnel. The decision could cost taxpayers tens of millions of pounds.
Click below to see the latest West Midlands headlines
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Collaborative Literacy meets criteria for Michigan's Tier 1 Early Literacy evaluation and is eligible for Section 35m funding
LANSING, Mich., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Department of Education's Committee for Literacy Achievement (CLA) critically evaluated and ranked Tier 1 early literacy curriculum materials. Collaborative Literacy curriculum, the only core program offered by a nonprofit organization, is comprised of the Being a Reader and Being a Writer programs. Collaborative Literacy successfully met the criteria set forth by the CLA and therefore qualifies for Section 35m funding. This funding is part of the Michigan FY 2025 State School Aid and supports the Department's goal of increasing student academic outcomes in the area of literacy. "We're thrilled that Michigan has recognized Collaborative Literacy as a high-quality, evidence-based solution for Tier 1 literacy instruction," said Kelly Stuart, Collaborative Classroom President and CEO. "It's an honor to support Michigan educators with proven, comprehensive, and instructionally aligned solutions grounded in the research base." Jeremy Hyler, Michigan Senior Manager of Educational Partnerships at Collaborative Classroom, said, "This recognition by the state underscores the effectiveness and rigor of Collaborative Literacy in fostering literacy development for all students. This program is built on the science of reading and is already transforming literacy outcomes for students across Michigan." Learn how Michigan students are succeeding with Collaborative Literacy: Collaborative Literacy Builds Proficient Readers and Writers Critically evaluated and ranked by the Michigan Department of Education's Committee for Literacy Achievement for Tier 1 Early Literacy, Collaborative Literacy is a comprehensive K–5 curriculum that builds strong and knowledgeable readers and writers, creates vibrant and caring classroom communities, and empowers teachers to deepen their knowledge and expertise. Being a Reader™ and Being a Writer™, the two dynamic programs that comprise Collaborative Literacy, weave together the latest research in literacy and learning, integrated social skills development, and embedded professional learning. A complete solution for core reading and writing instruction, Collaborative Literacy provides: Comprehensive, research-based reading instruction that systematically develops both foundational skills and comprehension. Whole-class, student-centered writing instruction that focuses on process and conventions across genres. High-quality, high-interest fiction and nonfiction texts selected to support the instructional focus of each lesson and engage all students. Knowledge building through the integration of reading and writing experiences. Students actively foster their curiosity, build their knowledge, and become experts on topics that truly matter to them. English learner pre-teaching, extension, and point-of-need supports that help teachers provide scaffolding and prepare English learners to participate confidently in lessons. Integrated social-skills development that creates a supportive classroom community and nurtures students' sense of responsibility for their own learning and behavior. Embedded, continuous professional learning that empowers teachers to expand their content knowledge and deepen their pedagogical expertise. Formative and summative assessments that support instructional decision-making for the class, groups of students with similar points of need, and individual students. About Collaborative Classroom Collaborative Classroom is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that all students become readers, writers, and thinkers who learn from, care for, and respect one another. Through evidence-based programs and embedded professional learning, the organization transforms teaching and learning and builds thriving school communities. Since the organization's founding, our work has reached more than 10 million students and 440,000 educators across the country. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Collaborative Classroom
Axios
3 hours ago
- Axios
Portuguese is the third most-spoken language in Utah
Portuguese, Chinese and German are the three most commonly spoken languages in Utah, other than English and Spanish, per new census data. Why it matters: The myriad languages spoken across the state reflect the settlement and colonization of centuries long past, as well as more modern immigration patterns. By the numbers: Just over 13,800 people speak Portuguese in Utah, followed by 9,100 Chinese speakers and 8,500 German speakers, per the census data. That is a fraction of the 310,300 Spanish speakers in the Beehive State. The survey data represents the languages spoken at home from 2017 to 2021 among people five years and older in the U.S. The intrigue: Portuguese is prevalent in Utah in part because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has ties to Brazil. The South American country is home to 1.5 million church members, according to church statistics. As of 2022, about 7,700 foreign-born residents of Utah hailed from Brazil, according to Portuguese is the top language after English and Spanish in four other states: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Between the lines: Nationally, many multilingual people speak one language at home with family, but use English at work, school and elsewhere. Just over 60% of people who speak a language other than English at home also say they speak English "very well," per the census data. Zoom out: Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese are the three most common languages spoken in the U.S. after English and Spanish, per the census data.
Chicago Tribune
18 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
United Way officials encouraged by awareness of 211 services; ‘We're very excited about the results of the … survey'
Awareness of the 211 Lake County service offered by United Way of Lake County to help people with a variety of needs — from paying for rent or a utility bill, to escaping domestic violence, to mental health, to legal issues and more — is growing and exceeding expectations, officials say. Three years after it was started in 2019, a survey commissioned by United Way showed 21.5% of county residents were aware of the telephone service's existence. Three years later, Gale Graves, the organization's vice president of community impact, said people are substantially more aware. After the initial survey, Graves said a second study was ordered earlier this year to determine whether the efforts to let people know how the service can help were fruitful. 'We're very excited about the results of the awareness survey,' she said, 'In 2022, we were told 15% (awareness) would be good, and we did 21.5%. Our awareness in Lake County is increasing even more. With a third aware, we are drawing awareness across the county.' Awareness of United Way's 211 service grew 63.4% between 2022 and 2025, with 33.4% of residents surveyed cognizant of the assistance across Lake County. The organization is using the latest survey results to help it plan for the future. Though anyone in Lake County might need to call 211, Graves said a larger percentage are those living below the poverty level, 8%, or who do not earn a living wage, 26%, are knowledgeable. ''People who are not earning a living wage' means they are not earning enough to be able to afford basic needs like housing, utilities or healthcare,' Graves said. 'They are not able to afford all the basics.' Among people or families with income less than $50,000 a year, Jennifer Strom, United Way's director of marketing and communications, said in an email awareness is higher, with 43.5% of the subgroup knowledgeable. Strom said a large number of calls come from people dealing with homelessness and needing shelter, recovering from substance abuse, those with mental health needs or crime victims. They are referred to partner agencies specializing in their situations. 'Some of our partner agencies serve the Spanish-speaking and immigrant communities,' Strom said. For those not speaking English or Spanish, Graves said there are interpretation services for 150 languages including Polish, Korean, Hindi, Russian, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Urdu and Mandarin. Part of the reason for the growth in awareness exceeding expectations comes from United Way's outreach to the county's Spanish-speaking community. Newspaper and radio commercials were done in both languages, according to a press release. Materials are multicultural. Between Jan. 1 and March 31 of this year, 211 has reached 14,884 community contacts and 1,300 people have been trained to use the service, according to the release. The training is done in both English and Spanish. Graves said United Way regularly goes to community events and holds workshops to both increase awareness and teach people how to use the 211 service. There is also contact with community partners who specialize in particular needs. 'We talk to people to make them aware of 211,' Graves said. 'We do trainings with people to teach them how to use 211.' Community partners include Family First of Lake County, NIRCO, school districts, HACES, Mano a Mano, libraries, the YWCA and more.
