'HS2 building works make my house shake - it's like living in hell'

People in Meriden have spoken out over 'hellish' HS2 works



Residents in Meriden, described as the historic centre of England, are up in arms over 'hellish' HS2 construction works that have shattered their rural peace, with houses trembling through the night due to the disturbance.

The irate locals in Meriden, just 15 minutes from Coventry, argue that the relentless noise and the encroachment of a 'giant building site' have turned their lives into an unbearable ordeal.

Heavy machinery involved in the colossal £100 billion high-speed rail endeavour is causing sleepless nights for some residents, who feel their homes shake due to the vibrations.

Rural roadways have descended into traffic pandemonium, triggered by the comings and goings of lorries and diggers, while idyllic landscapes are being remorselessly "carved up".

Concerns about plummeting house prices, which currently average at around £443,000, are driving some villagers to consider leaving, fearing the blot on the landscape left by the 'eyesore' project.

In the political realm, it was revealed last week that Prime Minister Keir Starmer might bring back the northern segments of HS2, previously axed under the Conservative reign.

Even as speculation about reviving parts of the network swirls, the ongoing work from Birmingham to London persists, much to the dismay of those in Meriden, who see "no end to the work in sight".

Local businessman and author Stephen Smith, 81, from Meriden shared his personal connection to the village: "I moved here as my brother passed away and I wanted to visit his grave each day."

"Being from London originally I really started to appreciate green belt land and nature around me and then HS2 happened."

"Aside from all the overspending and whether we even need this line, the works have carved up our beautiful countryside on the outskirts of the village."

"You can feel the vibrations from the construction work at home and the traffic has been hell."

"The HS2 workers are decent enough hard-working guys but it's those higher up the chain who just don't seem to care about the impact this is having."

"People are being displaced and having their villages turned into building sites. It's been terrible."

Another local resident Paul Wilson, 41, added: "I'm seriously considering moving house and I've lived here all my life."

"It's been hellish living next to a gigantic building site with no end to the works in sight."

"The completion dates just seem to get pushed back constantly with the price of the project goes up and up."

"It has completely shattered the peace of living in a village and I fear it will bring down property prices too as its an eyesore."

Grandfather-of-nine Patrick Mayle, 65, a former restaurant owner, of Meriden, added:. "We've had the vibrations of the explosions and drills making the houses shake."

"You can hear the works sometimes. My hearing is bad but my son says he has been kept awake."

"You've only got to look at the damage they've done."

Echoing the frustration, Jean, 71, commented: "It's the environmental impact too of cutting all the trees down."

"I travel on buses and going out of the village with all the disruption and interruption with the traffic is a shame."

"What is really annoying is that track they are building is practically parallel with another one that is currently in existence."

"That one already goes from London to Birmingham."

I moved here as my brother passed away and I wanted to visit his grave each day.

"They've had to close roads and fell trees that have been up for years, it's such a shame that it's proving so disruptive.