Move will destroy central London’s last hedgehog population
HS2 will be allowed to use a key hedgehog habitat as a holding area for their lorries, a House of Lords Select Committee has ruled.
The decision will allow the planned high-speed rail network to use ZSL London Zoo’s car park as a lorry park, despite experts identifying the area as a key habitat for the declining species.
ZSL London Zoo had been leading a campaign in an attempt to stop HS2 from destroying the habitat, which is central London’s last remaining hedgehog population.
But the House of Lords Select Committee’s Special Report claims the plight of the hedgehogs does not justify ‘what would be a major disruption to [HS2’s] plans’.
In September, Professor David Field, zoological director at ZSL London Zoo, appealed to the committee, calling on expert witnesses including ecologists and conservationists.
Professor Field urged HS2 to find a different location for their lorry park, so as not to cause permanent damage to the hedgehogs that live in the shrubbery of the car park’s borders.
“We are incredibly disappointed by this ruling; the future survival of this population of hedgehogs has been unnecessarily compromised, at the expense of a lorry-holding area for which we believe there are better options available,” said Professor Field.
“We had hoped that the House of Lords Select Committee would recognise the severity of the threat posed by HS2 to the hedgehogs, and would help us to try and protect them.
“We still strongly believe that HS2’s plans pose a great risk to this vulnerable population, but in the face of this ruling, we will endeavour to do all we can to safeguard this iconic British species.”
Image (C) ZSL London
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