HS2 hits peak performance... and pain

As engineers celebrate Britain's most controversial infrastructure project passing a key milestone near Water Orton in Warwickshire, some local residents are considering abandoning their homes

-  Alycia McNamara

THE PRETTY village of Water Orton was once a typical, slow-paced dwelling for its population of just over 3,000. This week, it became the "peak" of HS2 completion after the first of 13 viaducts at a key juncture of the new rail line was finished. The mood was jubilant for managers of the controversial project. Client director for the Midlands Matt Young told the BBC: "Momentum on HS2 is absolutely incredible at the moment. On the civil engineering part of the project, we're at peak construction; we'll stay at peak through 2025 and into 2026."

But it's a different matter if you live in the area. For locals, it's the peak of two years of upheaval and mess, with green fields replaced by big brown heaps of soil and much-loved oak trees felled to make way for huge steel containers.

Any semblance of peace and quiet has gone, too. All you can hear is the din of construction works and traffic backed up on the main road.

Construction began in the North Warwickshire village in 2023, with HS2 marking two huge scars across the landscape that will eventually carry passengers along 700 metres of track over the nearby M42 motorway. Reaching 20 metres tall at its highest point, the viaducts will be amongst the tallest structures along the HS2 route, dwarfing homes in their shadow.

Roger Hunt, 72, has lived in Water Orton for 36 years. "I have a lot of frustration, a lot of anger and a lot of sadness now because of what has happened to my village," he says. "I'm just really fed up. As soon as my daughter leaves home, we're getting out of here."

Lynda Davies, 75, a retired librarian, says she has fewer places to walk her dog Maisie due to the work, explaining: "It's dreadful the pollution, the dust, the noise.