Recommendation 30

HS2 Ltd told us that there had already been significant activity from environmental protests at various sites along the Phase One route. Most notably, protesters tunnelled beneath land owned by HS2 Ltd at Euston. HS2 Ltd told us that this disruption had cost it in the region of £75 million so far and had an impact on the programme. It recognised that those living on the HS2 route did not choose to live alongside the work, and that they had “every right” to peaceful protest but told us that it was concerned by protests becoming increasingly violent and disruptive. It explained that there had been around 300 arrests and nine prosecutions as a result of protests. HS2 Ltd told us that it and its contractors were not really geared up to manage the level of protests that had occurred so far, and that it would other support from Government to ensure that it is addressed.71 67 Oral evidence: HS2 recall – pre panel, HC 178, Qq 24, 33 68 Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, An investigation into HS2 Ltd’s failure to communicate with a family about acquiring their home, HC 211, 26 May 2021 69 Qq 105, 108; Correspondence from Mark Thurston, Chief Executive Officer, HS2 Ltd to the Committee, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report, 29 May 2021 70 Qq 104, 108 71 Q 3 20 HS2 Summer 2021