Mum's Fury: Quiet Village Life Ruined as HS2 Tunnel Splits Her Home in Two

'What has been done to them is devastating; many individuals around here have seen their lives destroyed.'

These are the words of Karen Blake, a mother who relocated to the village of Burton Green seeking a more peaceful lifestyle but ended up discovering it would turn into a construction zone for several years.

The Warwickshire village has been completely split in half by construction work to construct a tunnel for HS2 .

The tunnel, nearing 70% completion, is intended to be a 'green tunnel,' designed to harmonize with the surrounding natural scenery upon finishing.

However, for now, villagers mention they're enduring a nightmare in life.

Karen, who works as a creative director and is a mother to one child, has been residing in Burton Green for six years since moving from Coventry.

She stated: 'We relocated from the city seeking a more peaceful lifestyle, but it has turned out to be quite the opposite.'

'We were informed that it would be two fields away from the village, but instead, they constructed it directly behind us.'

'Some days the vibration noises can really make you feel quite queasy, and all the dust settling on our homes can't be beneficial for our well-being.'

'Previously, we had vast expanses of land with fields stretching for miles, teeming with natural beauty where you could spot deer and bats. Now, they have demolished thousands of trees in an old forest to build this eyesore.'

'What has been done to them is devastating; many individuals here have seen their lives destroyed.'

'I have shed tears at certain moments. I operate from my house, but it feels like concentrating is impossible; you might as well reside next to the M25.'

'You can only utilize your gardens on Sundays – as those are the only days they get time off.'

'I simply cannot understand how they rationalize its presence or its price. It’s unclear to me who will actually gain from this.'

Once the plans for the tunnel were unveiled, the village was highlighted as possibly bearing the brunt of the impact from the contentious high-speed railway project.

Five years later, many inhabitants of the village, dating back to the 1500s with approximately 600 residents, claim that this vision has become reality.

Eileen Thompson, a 77-year-old grandmother who used to work as a secretary, has been residing in Burton Green for the past six years.

She stated, "From the beginning, it has been utterly terrible. The dust, grime, and noise—along with all the diversions and road closures—have essentially divided our village in half."

'There has been extensive damage to the vegetation, displacing numerous wild animals. Many residents have relocated from the region.'

'At times when I am seated in my home, I can sense the entire area shaking.'

'We experienced three weeks of them removing concrete posts that were incorrectly installed; the noise and dust created were extremely bothersome.'

'Previously, there was a beautiful pathway next to where an old Victorian railway once stood, with fields and wildlife on either side – unlike the chaotic situation we face now.'

'It's devastating to witness the destruction surrounding us.'

'They have purchased vacant properties and demolished them as residents have relocated. Currently, HS2 probably owns more properties than any other entity.'

'It’s simply shameful how poorly this was planned and carried out; I struggle to identify who will actually benefit from it.'

'We're essentially going to have a shuttle service between Birmingham and London that won't fully reach either city.'

'It is a colossal waste of billions of pounds from our pockets and I believe it will ultimately be recognized as one of the largest scandals in British history.'

Although many villagers have already relocated, some remain worried that their property values might drop by as much as twenty percent.

The current average price for houses in Burton Green is approximately £500,000; however, concerns suggest that this figure might drop by as much as £100,000.

Father-of-two Phil Fairclough, aged 55, stated: "After the plans were unveiled, everyone was talking about how we might be hit hardest by HS2."

'If you take a look around here right now, I don't believe you could contest that - our small village has been divided by a railway line that nobody wanted.'

'I've seen friends relocate because of this; it has split and disrupted our neighborhood. The construction site looks unsightly. We believe property values could decrease by at least £100,000.'

The initial plan for HS2 was to connect London with major northern cities such as Manchester and Leeds, forming part of a 530-kilometer premier high-speed railway system.

But after costs spiralled , then PM Rishi Sunak decided to only push ahead with a line between the capital and Birmingham .

The latest estimate proposes that HS2 will have a price tag of £66 billion for the high-speed track between London and Birmingham .

A representative from HS2 Ltd stated: "We are striving to minimize disruptions throughout the building of the Burton Green Tunnel and have supplied a new village hall for the local residents."

The excavated soil is being repurposed for nearby landscaping purposes to prevent additional trucks from using local roads and aid in integrating the structure seamlessly with the adjacent rural area.

'Upon completion, the tunnel will protect nearby houses from noise and disruption, accompanied by a new public green area where residents can relax.'

'The current Kenilworth greenway cycling and walking path will be restored alongside new landscaping and tree-planting initiatives aimed at enhancing biodiversity and establishing additional wildlife habitats.'

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