‘How can the demolition of a building be deemed essential?’ 

• WE live in times of increasing contradiction.

On the one hand sunbathing for people without gardens is frowned upon, even with social distancing, walking routes are closed to much of the population, spiritual wellbeing counts for nought.

On the other people are flying in to Heathrow without any health checks, those with mild symptoms are quarantined for seven days rather than the World Health Organisation-prescribed 14, and construction workers are exempt from the rules about non-essential work.

How can the demolition of a building in Clerkenwell, with no planning permission for its replacement, or work on the HS2 project, neither of which can be done without breaching social distancing rules, be deemed essential?

Delaying Crossrail will affect next year’s finances, but it has happened in the interests of public health.

HS2 is years away. Moreover, the government has just told HS2 Ltd that they can no longer be trusted with the Euston approach, having abandoned the scheme that was approved by parliament and failed to come up with a convincing replacement.

Why, then, are they even contemplating further work in the Euston area, regardless of Covid-19 restrictions?

The government cannot afford to drift until the prime minister’s convalescence is complete. There must be a stop to all unnecessary construction and destruction work now.

ANDREW BOSI
Wall Street, N1