DERAILED
We’re living a never-ending nightmare because of HS2 – it’s like a building site… my kids’ playground has been stolen
The woods had "huge sentimental value" for the family
A FAMILY has revealed they are living a constant nightmare after HS2 began building a massive maintenance depot on their land.
Ingrid Hodges, 45, claims her family's life has been derailed after rail bosses seized their farmland in a compulsory purchase order.
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The situation worsened further when contractors "unlawfully" destroyed seven acres of woodland, legally owned by the family, according to Ingrid.
The woods had "huge sentimental value" for the family, she added.
It is where her four sons would play and is also where their beloved ponies are buried, reports.
The family are adamant the last remaining woodland on their farm was not part of the original HS2 plans passed in legislation and was not subject to compulsory purchase.
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Ingrid learned of the plans after she bumped into two contractors walking around the woods on their farm in Steeple, Buckinghamshire.
They have stolen our children's childhood, inheritance and their futures
Ingrid Hodges
Contractors allegedly chopped down thousands of trees and are now putting up a huge fence bar to access the area.
The family have consulted lawyers and are now locked into a compensation battle over the land.
They have demanded an immediate halt to works and a judicial review.
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But the family face a difficult challenge against the onslaught from HS2.
Ingrid told the Mail: "They have stolen our children's childhood, inheritance and their futures."
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Her husband, Joe, 44, runs Elm Tree farm, which produces arable crops and has been owned by his family for three generations.
The family claimed they were ordered to sell a huge chunk of their farm.
However, they added that officials got their estimate wrong as they have taken nearly 50 per cent of their productive farmland instead of 15 per cent.
An environmental statement drafted before the HS2 hybrid bill was given royal assent outlined that farmland would have greater protection.
The family's local MP has slammed the contactors after he dubbed HS2 as "bad neighbours" and said they had gone to a "new low" in dealing with the Hodges.
The controversial project has been plagued by soaring costs and delays.
The HS2 line which is said to provide commuters with a high-speed link between Birmingham and London has a price tag of around £65billion.
Last October, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the second phase of the project, which would link Birmingham to Manchester, was scrapped to save £36billion.
Buckinghamshire Council claimed the contractors have conducted themselves lawfully and they have met on several occasions with the family to try and mitigate any grievances.
"Unfortunately the work that HS2 Limited and their contractors are undertaking does comply with the Environmental Statement and the HS2 Schedule 17 planning regime," the council said.
A spokesperson for HS2 added: "We now have permission from Buckinghamshire Council for the design of this landscaping and we are confident that we have the legal right to begin work."
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It comes after a damning report by MPs revealed that the scaled-back plans for HS2 were a waste of public money.
And HS2 bosses made staff do 50 days of inclusivity training when they would have been working on the line.
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