ActorVist Ross Monaghan - Part 3a

Two Camps & A Deplorable Incident - directed by, and starring, ActorVist Ross Monaghan

In 2008, under a Labour Government led by Gordon Brown, a request was made to Network Rail to investigate the lack of coverage and capacity of Britain's railway system.

In 2009 Labour's Transport Secretary, Geoff Hoon, announced a Government-owned company, High Speed Rail 2 (HS2), was to be formed to consider the case for a high speed rail line between London and the West Midlands. However, following acceptance of the plans in 2013 under a Cameron/Clegg coalition government, the intervening years has seen costs spiral out of control, parts of the original proposal shelved, and opposition to the scheme continue to grow.

A report published in January 2020 by the National Audit Office concluded that HS2 is behind on schedule, and a long way over the original budget for the scheme, as the Government had "underestimated its complexity and risk". The cost, originally set at £56 billion has now been revised to between £65 billion and £88 billion. However, a leaked separate report, commissioned by the Department for Trade and carried out by Doug Oakervee and Lord Berkeley, suggested the final bill could be as much as 89% higher than originally planned and forecast the cost could reach a staggering £106 billion. Discussions between those for and those against the scheme have been passionate and heated.

Opposition to the proposed new rail route includes both environmental and economic reasons, with those against the scheme arguing that the cost of demolishing homes and the damage it will cause to rural England is just far too costly and disruptive. Campaign groups were set up and 'Middle England' started to protest as compulsory purchase orders were implemented and ancient woodlands destroyed.

By the 18th of December 2019 Ross Monaghan was already laying out his plans to commence the inveigling of HS2 protests.

However, also on the 18th, not long after publishing the above to his Facebook page, he added another post:

"Hey there digital collective three parts to my quest for knowledge and power today...."

"1) anyone know any good mechanics in Suffolk who aren't to pricey have bought a new van but having some mystery electrical issues and need a part replaced. Have been working on it myself to keep cost down but hit wall.... and now have a dead van...."

"2) I am going to HS2 soon and will be starting to spend a little more time there but am not in a place to be full time front line. Does anyone want to organise and come down this week try make a plan how we can get more support there?"

"3) I am still looking for a place to stabilise for a month or two warmth and a bed is all I am looking for.... I am willing to work and will pay my way. Or on a longer term basis looking for a build or community to join...."

By the 20th of December 2019 Monaghan was getting ready for his Christmas holidays. But look at who he targets, a highly respected, trusting, peaceful campaigner who, with no fuss or drama, just quietly gets on with everything.

Once again Monaghan has cleverly worded his Facebook post. His shout-out makes it look as though Alan has no support and needs lots of new equipment and supplies, none of it particularly cheap. The same Alan, a direct action specialist from Colne Valley Camp, who in an earlier post Monaghan said could do nothing but monitor and record, he now reports as having "saved some wildlife". The same Alan, who together with Lizzy Williams (co-founder of StopHS2), successfully led local people, councillors, and campaigners, to protect the trees and get plans changed for the widening of both the Link road and Frith Hill in Great Missenden. Why make out that Alan is a lonely figure with no support or help, incapable of doing anything but writing a few notes?

Around 50 protesters in Great Missenden stopping HS2 felling trees, and they succeeded!

Oh look (no pun intended), on the 23rd of December Monaghan made it to the Stop HS2 camp and Alan received his new head torch, for which he was extremely grateful and we, the Green Wash authors, were genuinely pleased for him. Alan is a great campaigner and deserved his new head torch and at least some good came out of the debacle that was about to unfold. However, we can't help but wonder what happened to the rest of the wish list?

Christmas Day arrived, and for a camp that Monaghan suggested had been receiving no support, a number of good, local residents visited in solidarity, some bearing gifts of food.

For local anti-HS2 campaigners however, things did not go very well after Monaghan turned up. Shortly after arriving, his first attempt at community outreach was to upset local parents by smoking cannabis in close proximity to their children's play area.

Following this incident, residents quickly learned he was bad news and his time at Great Missenden became very short-lived. Realising the locals really didn’t want him hanging around, and running out of camps to disrupt, it was time for him to move on and start one of his own. He chose a location just five miles down the road close to the small village of Wendover, and called on his fellow 'activists' to come and join him.

To be continued!