Downton Abbey star takes to local waterways to oppose HS2
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:16 am
A Downton Abbey star has taken to Warwickshire’s waterways to highlight his opposition to HS2
Actor Peter Egan, who played the Marquess of Flintshire in the hit show, spent a recent Sunday morning on the Grand Union Canal.
The 72-year-old conservationist fears the wildlife and its natural habitat is set to be damaged ‘beyond repair’ by the high speed line.
Mr Egan said: “It was terrific to take a trip on the Grand Union Canal. Sunday morning was a perfect time to visit this extraordinary waterway, to have a quiet view of the scenery and experience the wonderful sense of peace you get.
“This area of amazing and beautiful wildlife is going to be affected so detrimentally by the HS2 rail from London to Birmingham.
“To just experience this area of natural beauty and see how this development will so devastatingly affect it is deeply depressing. To save 20 minutes of a journey is not worth it.”
Previous protests have seen mum and son Gerry and Matt and Bishop walking from Cubbington to London, while Kenilworth schoolboy Alex Rukin has petitioned parliament over funding for the project.
Mr Egan added: “Permission has not been granted for the project and yet preparations are ongoing, with little consideration to the protests being made by the local community.
“It seems to me the corporate mindset behind the HS2 project has got to address the concerns of individuals, who care about bio diversity, who care about our wildlife and its natural habitat, who care about not only our own health but the health of our planet. These voices must be listened to, and the concerns expressed to protect the waterlands and natural filtration system which, as I understand it, will be damaged beyond repair by HS2.
“I know commuting is a dreadful consumer of people’s lives, but is it really worth the price this wonderful area of natural beauty will pay for such a saving?”