The Green Party leader Natalie Bennett visited Uxbridge on Friday (August 12) to learn more about fears the HS2 rail link between London and the north of England will 'ruin' a nearby nature reserve.
Ms Bennett met with Green campaigners at midday and was given a tour along the Grand Union Canal to the Colne Valley Regional Park, which some fear is under threat from the new train service.
Sarah Green, who was among the campaigners and runs river boat tours, said she fears for her river business if the plans go ahead.
Ms Bennett told getwestlondon : “I'm here today to see first hand the impact this disastrously damaging project could have in this specific area.
“The Green Party is entirely opposed to HS2 . It makes no economic, environmental or social sense.”
While the HS2 route itself will not pass through the nature park, the Colne Valley is the proposed site for a 3.4km viaduct, 12 construction compounds, two worker accommodation sites, two tunnel portals and five electricity stations.
The Colne Valley Regional Park says the development will 'dissect' the park and three walks through the reserve will be 'seriously affected'.
The High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill, which would allow for work to begin on the project, is currently being scrutinised by the House of Lords and could be in place as early as 2017.
However, earlier this year a watchdog warned the scheme could be delayed by a year .
Once the law has been give Royal Assent work can because at the nature reserve in Hillingdon .
Ms Green set up her riverboat business with her partner Josephine Asher, who died from pancreatic Cancer in February this year.
The couple had been together for 22 years.
Ms Green said: “It's going to ruin it.
“At the moment its a beautiful natural area. People go walking and fishing there, but its going to be turned into a building site.”
Ms Bennett called the plans 'vandalism'.
HS2 aims to improve real links between London and the north travelling from Euston station to Birmingham and then to Manchester and Leeds.
The proposed route passes through Northolt , South Ruislip passes near Ickenham and then Harefield , but does not pass through Uxbridge itself.
A spokesman for HS2 said: “HS2 is committed to the goal of seeking no net loss to biodiversity and will continue to build on best practice for environmental protection. We believe current proposals provide the best balance between route engineering design requirements, safety, cost and the desire to minimise environmental impacts."
“As part of that commitment, we will be planting seven million trees over the next ten years, creating valuable green corridors and natural habitats as well as working to create a mix of replacement wetland, grassland and heathland habitats along the line of the route from London to Birmingham.”
