The big blue barrier in Gloucester Avenue – the latest disruption caused by the High Speed 2 railway works

HIGH Speed 2 has been urged to call a halt to sewer works which have shut down a much-used road for seven months. Blue barriers have appeared in Gloucester Avenue with all eastbound traffic between Regent’s Park Road and Parkway blocked off until January.

The Thames Water works are there “to protect a sewer from a tunnel boring machine” with concerns HS2’s underground bulldozers could rupture pipes and flood parts of Primrose Hill in raw sewage.

But the road closure is a major headache for residents, cyclists, 274 bus passengers and drivers who are being sent on diversions.

Residents in Primrose Hill are surprised the works are going ahead following the government’s recent announcement of a “pause” to construction of the multi-billion pound rail project’s main station in Euston.

It has been suggested route may never even get built to Camden, despite the demolition and disruption already seen.

Annabel Leventon, the Darwin Court Residents’ and Leaseholders’ Association, said: “Our communal garden right next to the works, will be out of action for a year. A place of calm and relaxation, it is essential to many of our residents – we are a community of 104 flats. The noise and dirt from the sewer works will render it unusable.”

She added: “Moreover, in the light of the huge sink holes now appearing above the HS2 tunnels, our homes are seriously endangered, as they lie over the path of the tunnels at the shallowest end. No ground survey has been carried out. Of course they should stop the sewer works and the tunnelling immediately.”

Seventeen parking bays have been suspended in Gloucester Avenue, St Mark’s Square and Prince Albert Road during the works.

Pam White, from the Primrose Hill Conservation Area Advisory Committee, said: “Everyone is really inconvenienced by this. Drivers will have very slow traffic on Prince Albert Road. There will be long queues. HS2 should not be allowed to tread roughshod over us with road closures. We support anyone who opposes it.”

HS2 wants to tunnel a new line underneath Primrose Hill running alongside the tracks from the top of Parkway and into a new station at Euston. B

ut in March, works were stopped amid spiralling costs with the government admitting the project could run until the start of the 2040s..

In response to the New Journal, Thames Water sent a statement from HS2, which said: “In line with direction from the government, some HS2 work between Old Oak Common and Euston is being paused and rephased with only critical preparatory work, including utilities works, continuing during this time.

The government remains committed to delivering HS2 from Euston to Manchester and these vital tunnels will enable high speed services into central London – creating jobs, better connecting our country and giving people more zero carbon transport alternatives.”