HS2 boss says it was RIGHT to spend £100million on a BAT tunnel as he admits it could be two more years before crisis-plagued rail project costing tens of billions is back on track
Daily MailThe new boss of the beleaguered and massively over-budget HS2 rail scheme refused to apologise for it spending £100million on a tunnel for bats. But Mr Wild told MPs: 'At the end of the day, HS2 Ltd must obviously comply with the law, and the law says that we must mitigate damage, harm, to protected species. Mr Wild told MPs: 'At the end of the day, HS2 Ltd must obviously comply with the law, and the law says that we must mitigate damage, harm, to protected species. Department for Transport permanent secretary Dame Bernadette Kelly said the department and the Treasury had 'challenged' the building of the bat tunnel, but found it was 'the most efficient remedy' for protecting the species. Last month, HS2 executive chairman Sir Jon Thompson told a rail industry conference the structure in Buckinghamshire is needed to appease Natural England because bats are legally protected in the UK.
History of this topic
HS2 blows £100million on a 'shed' to protect bats - even though 'there is no evidence that high-speed trains interfere' with the mammals
Daily Mail
Tory ministers to blame for spiralling HS2 costs, says ex-rail boss
The Independent
Labour refuses to commit to finishing HS2 rail project in full
The Independent
HS2 Stage 2 could be scrapped: Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt 'in talks to axe high speed rail route north of Birmingham' to save £34billion ahead of the next election (after already spending £2.3billion
Daily Mail
HS2 broke wildlife rules nine times over handling of bats and newts
The Telegraph
Block HS2 felling because of threat to bats, says Woodland Trust
The TelegraphDiscover Related
