NORTH Ealing Against HS2 marched in protest despite the terrible weather conditions on Saturday (March 23).
Around 50 die hards took to the streets in the demonstration beginning at Dean Gardens and ending at Ealing town hall, holding banners and homemade placards and handing out leaflets.
Speeches in opposition to HS2 and calls for tunnelling were given by Dr Onkar Sahota, London Assembly Representative for Ealing and Hillingdon and Ealing councillors, as well as UKIP Hanger Hill councillor Benjamin Dennehy, who said his party opposes the entire HS2 plan.
Alex Nieora, Chairman of NEAHS2, said they still expect the Secretary of State to announce further tunnelling for Ealing under the Northolt corridor.
He said that this announcement was promised in the new year, then the end of January, then the end of February and now by Easter.
Eddie Pawley, Campaigner for NEAHS2, said: "We felt the march was worth it, the people who came were regular supporters who want to take a stance and show everyone they are not happy. We are all fighting together because it could devastate us."
Mr Pawley, of Selborne Gardens, said: "A few people on the streets did not know what has been going on which shows how bad the consultation process has been. The march told residents of Ealing that we are still fighting the monster. We are here and won’t go away and if we do not get the tunnel we will up the ante."
Valerie Rudd, who lives close to the line in Perivale and joined the march, said that when they got to the town hall there was a lot of tooting of cars and people saying well done.
She said: “You have to be in good spirits, you can only do your best in this situation. At the moment I’m feeling trembles in bed. If it’s affecting us now what’s it going to be like with HS2. I don’t care how much padding they will use to soften the line, we are going to get tremors like a miniature earthquake."
Ealing Conservative leader David Millican said he wanted the government to consider tunnelling under Greenford, Perivale and Northolt.
He said he was pleased by the number of people who came out on the cold wintery day and that the protest heightened interest and awareness and showed public opposition to what is intended.
