Residents have been left horrified after a huge 16-foot deep hole opened up above a ten-mile long tunnel being built for the controversial HS2 high speed rail line.<br /><br />The hole, which is about 6m (20ft) wide, opened up above part of the Chiltern tunnel in Little Missenden, Bucks. <br /><br />Anti-HS2 campaigners have said it is evidence that tunnelling on the controversial infrastructure project should stop.<br /><br />And, local residents are concerned about the risks the hole presents to the safety of communities in the area.<br /><br />Catherine Bunting, a parish councillor for Great Missenden and Prestwood, said: "Residents want drilling to stop whilst the safety of the aquifer is independently assessed. <br /><br />"They have expressed concern for the fragile aquifer for years now and HS2 don’t appear to address any of our concerns. <br /><br />"The aquifer feeds drinking water to millions of people in the South East and feeds our chalk streams and rivers."<br /><br />But a HS2 spokesperson said the hole was likely related to “pre-existing ground conditions".<br /><br />The Chiltern Tunnel is the longest tunnel on the HS2 route between London and Crewe at ten miles long and will carry passengers under the Chiltern Hills.<br /><br />Two 2,000 tonne boring machines were launched in the summer of 2021 and are around half way through creating the tunnel.<br /><br />It is part of the first phase of works for HS2 which is expected to be operational between London and Crewe between 2029 and 2033.<br /><br />A spokesperson for HS2, said: "We are aware of a small area of ground movement within a field above the Chiltern tunnels.<br /><br />“Investigations are ongoing, but this is likely to be linked to pre-existing ground conditions above the tunnels<br /><br />"The site has been sealed off and there is no risk to the public.”
