HS2 responds to claims from Cubbington and Kenilworth protestors that workers are showing contempt for Coronavirus guidelines

At Crackley Woods near Kenilworth today (Thursday March 26), evictions are taking place with a large team acting on behalf of HS2 Ltd and police officers are trying to remove protestors from their camp in accordance with a court order made last week.

But the protestors say that these actions from the team are going against the Government's advice and guidance in regard to social distancing and are questioning the legality of the evictions.

And they are also raising concerns that HS2 is continuing to have contractors carry out 'non-essential' work on sites.

Matt Bishop, who set up the nearby protest camp in South Cubbington Woods, said: To add insult to injury, whilst the rest of the country comes to terms with the ‘lockdown’ to help stem the tide of the coronavirus crisis, HS2 contractors are continuing apace, not even bothering to observe safe distances or other government directives.

“HS2 are putting their workers, their workers’ families, and their communities at risk with their blatant disregard for public health by continuing to work and bring in workers from all over the country to these compounds.

"That blatant disregard for public health seems to be typical of the morality of HS2.”

In response to the concerns, a spokesman for HS2 Ltd said: "To ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce and the communities in which we are working, only construction sites that can maintain Government guidelines and are critical to the delivery of HS2 will remain operational.

“As a result, the majority of our sites have paused or are pausing construction works. Those sites still working are doing so because they are confident they are operating within PHE guidelines, and will be monitored and remain under constant review.”

"There may be some short-term work that needs to be carried out at some sites in order to ensure they are in a safe position to pause works.

"We will also maintain the necessary security at each of our sites, which is vital to ensuring we uphold our health and safety commitments."