Sterk Systems Say No to HS2

The high speed link from London to Birmingham has been given the go ahead. However, the campaign to stop HS2 being built is still in full swing, and Sterk Systems are fully behind it.

1. Environmental Impact

From our offices in Amersham, we are just 5 minutes away from the point where the new high speed train is set to emerge into areas of local woodland. With a 'vegetation management' width for the new track currently estimated at 69 meters, an expanse wider than Wembley stadium is going to be decimated up and down the country all in the name of 'progress'.

2. Economic Impact

While the government are saying that we need to improve the time it takes for people to commute between our major cities, Britain actually has a much lower intercity travel time than most European countries. And, as more people start to bypass our local towns and companies in favour of going directly to London, the economic impact on Buckinghamshire could be huge.

Economic forecasts which state every £1 invested will see a £2 return are now being regarded as severely over optimistic and, if you take a look at some of the towns that were affected when Dr Richard Beeching started shutting down local railway stations in the 1950's, these areas became ghost towns soon after.

Though the new high speed rail link is forecast to generate jobs and increase affluencey, the focus of that growth is on an already thriving central London with little consideration for the small business within Buckinghamshire that will suffer.


Homes and businesses in our local area will have to be demolished to make way for the new track and local business will fall.

Don't get us wrong, we are all for economic growth and progression. We spend a significant amount of time looking at new technologies and innovations to provide our own range of ladders and platforms. But when it is progress that could have such an overwhelming impact on so many, we say the price is too high.

How You Can Help

If you want to join in the fight against HS2 in Buckinghamshire join us by following @stopHS2 on twitter or register on the StopHS2 website.

Write to your MP, join the many action groups that are developing or simply start spreading the word to your friends and customers.

The more people that get on the board, the greater the chance of stopping this before it starts. After all, if we can't stop HS2, how long is it before the plans for HS3 take hold?
campaign to stop HS2 being built is still in full swing, and

Joelle, Sterk Systems