ACTIVISTS opposing the building and development of the controversial HS2 rail link have appeared in court following a non-violent protest in London last year. 

Members of HS2 Rebellion are being charged after claims that they hid tools during the demonstration while physically locked up, on the opposite side of a compound gate. 

The group targeted the HS2 site on October 9, 2020, on the outskirts of Uxbridge, West London, erecting a temporary bamboo structure outside the construction and quarry site.

Slogans such as ​​”stop HS2” and “extinction is forever” — a quote from Prime Minister Boris Johnson — were displayed at the gates. 

More than 21 activists were eventually arrested, with three rounds of trials already being dropped. 

Those in Milton Keynes magistrate’s court this week have been charged under section 241 (c) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act, which raises concerns activists hid, deprived or hindered use of tools, clothes or property.

In the first round of cases that went to trial in May this year the case was thrown out as the judge deemed that it failed on all three counts and the defendants were acquitted. 

The prosecution also cancelled the next round of cases in June, and the final round of cases from the September 1 to 3 on the grounds that they were unlikely to be successful. 

Theresa Norton, one of the defendants, said: “I have witnessed first hand the wanton damage to wildlife, ancient woodlands and human life being wrought by HS2.

“So all that was left to me was to put my body on the line. That is what I did. And will continue to do until common sense prevails and this most destructive and mindless project is stopped.”

The trial continues.