Underground HS2 tunnel protesters defy eviction

Bailiffs are continuing to try to move protesters who are camping underground in a tunnel at an HS2 building site.

Protesters at Swynnerton, Staffordshire, have continued to stay put, but have raised concerns over the air quality.

HS2 said it was pumping air into the tunnel but has urged the group to leave.

This third camp set up by protesters in the county is at "Bluebell B", officially called Closepit Plantation.

Protester Jim Knaggs said: "It's a basic humanitarian issue to give people air.

"We've got our own air, we have done since the start of it, there's never been an issue with that."

Mr Knaggs said it was the underground bailiffs who were causing the issue with air quality.

The eviction has been going on for just over a week so far.

A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: "The safety of everyone connected with our works to secure HS2 land at Cash's Pit is our first priority."

It also said its tunnelling team was regularly using digital air quality monitoring equipment to ensure the quality of the tunnel atmosphere was maintained, as well as providing protesters with a system of communication so they were able to contact them in an event of an emergency.

In November 2021, HS2 protesters in Buckinghamshire camped underground for 28 days.

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