Fact Check: HS2's Bat Shed: £168M for a 1km Long Structure!
What We Know
The claim regarding the cost of HS2's bat shed, often referred to as a "bat shield," has been a topic of discussion, particularly concerning its reported expense of £100 million for a 1km long structure designed to protect Bechstein's bats in Buckinghamshire. The chairman of HS2, Sir John Thompson, highlighted this expenditure as part of the broader context of the project’s costs, which are influenced by extensive regulatory requirements, including the need for 8,276 separate consents from various public bodies (BBC, The Guardian).
Natural England, the government body responsible for wildlife protection, has stated that while they did not mandate the bat shed, they provided input on its design and the necessity of mitigating harm to protected species like bats (BBC, Sky News). The structure's cost has been attributed to various factors, including planning delays, legal requirements, and the complexity of the project (BBC, The Guardian).
Analysis
The assertion that the bat shed costs £168 million appears to stem from confusion or miscommunication regarding the total costs associated with the HS2 project. While the initial figure cited by HS2's chairman was £100 million, subsequent reports have indicated that the total cost for the bat shed, including associated civil works, could rise to £216 million (New Civil Engineer). This discrepancy suggests that while the £100 million figure is accurate for the structure itself, additional costs related to planning and construction could inflate the overall expenditure.
Critically assessing the sources, the BBC and The Guardian provide reliable coverage of the HS2 project's complexities and the environmental considerations involved. However, the claims made by Sir John Thompson regarding the necessity and justification for the bat shed have been met with skepticism, particularly his assertion that there is "no evidence" that high-speed trains pose a risk to bats (Sky News). This raises questions about the motivations behind the expenditure and whether it is justified based on environmental needs or regulatory compliance.
Moreover, the context of the UK's regulatory environment, which requires extensive environmental protections, adds layers of complexity to the project, potentially leading to inflated costs. Critics, including local council members, have expressed concerns over the perceived excessiveness of the costs associated with the bat shed, indicating a divide between ecological responsibility and fiscal prudence (BBC, The Guardian).
Conclusion
The claim that HS2's bat shed costs £168 million is Partially True. The initial reported cost of £100 million for the bat shed is accurate, but additional costs associated with the project could bring the total to approximately £216 million. This indicates a significant financial commitment to environmental protection, albeit one that has sparked debate regarding its necessity and efficiency. The complexities of regulatory compliance and environmental protection laws play a crucial role in these inflated costs, highlighting the challenges faced by large infrastructure projects in balancing ecological and economic considerations.
