HS2 tunnelling operations in Buckinghamshire raises concerns
Buckinghamshire Council and the Chilterns Conservation Board have raised potential issues
Concerns have been raised over HS2's tunnelling operations in Buckinghamshire.
The Chilterns Conservation Board and Buckinghamshire Council are asking HS2 Ltd for reassurance over their tunnelling operations on Buckinghamshire's aquifer and chalk streams.
The focus of their concerns are the pollution resulting from tunnelling operations, increasing abstraction of water and impacts on the flow of significant chalk streams, such as the River Misbourne.
The two organisations have written a joint Position Statement with a series of questions around the above worries.
They are asking HS2 Ltd to reassure them the worst case scenarios relating to the work have been considered and addressed.
Both are asking that Buckinghamshire residents are kept fully informed about likely impact and plans to mitigate the impacts.
Ian Thompson, Buckinghamshire Council's Corporate Director for Planning Growth & Sustainability, said:
"This is a really significant issue for Buckinghamshire and both organisations share the same concerns about the potential impacts of HS2's tunnelling operations on the county's aquifer and chalk streams."
Dr Elaine King, Chief Executive at the Chilterns Conservation Board, commented:
"Chalk streams are a globally rare and threatened habitat. They are home to a wide range of plants and animals, and an important source of drinking water for thousands of people. We therefore expect HS2 to treat the chalk aquifer and these special rivers with the utmost care and respect."
Only 200 chalk streams are known globally, 85% of which are found in the UK in southern and eastern England.
Nine of these rivers are located in the Chilterns and is one of the reasons for the Chilterns being designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.