By Martin Banks - 23rd January 2008
MEPs are spearheading a move for a memorial to recognise the “bravery” of workers killed in construction of the UK's new high-speed rail link.
Four workers were killed during the ten years it took to build the line, which links London St Pancras with Brussels and Paris.
UK Tory MEP John Bowis, one of those backing calls for a memorial, said: “Major projects which bring great benefits to great numbers of people are often to the cost of the lives and health of those involved in their construction.
“The very least we can do is mark their sacrifice with a permanent memorial.”
His comments are echoed by Mary Honeyball, who also represents London in parliament.
“We should not forget how challenging the construction was. Four lives were lost and that is four too many.”
She says it would be “fitting” to commemorate those who lost their lives to High Speed 1 with a monument at the newly-renovated St Pancras station.
“Surely, it is not too much to ask that we spare a couple of minutes to reflect on those who lost their lives to the project.
“Britain desperately needs more high-speed railway lines, but not at any cost.
"As we expand high-speed railways across the UK, we should insist that those who create these feats of engineering are better protected.”
Another MEP, Baroness Sarah Ludford, says lessons “need to be learned” from the project for future new railways, both in Britain and other EU countries.
She said: “I always use Eurostar, and never fly, in commuting to Brussels and regular users of the service like me should remember those who gave their lives building the new track.
“Four deaths is four too many and this raises some important health and safety issues for the whole construction industry where the number of deaths and injury is worryingly high.”
London MEP Claude Moraes argue that in the hullabaloo surrounding last November’s launch of one of Britain’s modern engineering wonders the human sacrifice made in its construction has been overlooked.
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