Helium balloon embankment created by village HS2 protesters

Barnburgh and Harlington Against HS2 Action Group inflated the balloons to show the height and width of the proposed structure.

The event, on Saturday (Oct 7), took place near Barnburgh’s Crown pub on Ludwell Close off Doncaster Road.

HS2 will run from Aston and Bramley up to Mexborough, before heading out to Barnburgh and the Dearne Valley.

John Gillespie, acting chairman of the Barnburgh and Harlington Against HS2 Action Group, said the embankment which will carry the line would be 20 metres high, 120 metres wide and have an extra six metres of gantries to hold electric cables above it.

He said he hoped the balloon protest would highlight to people the impact of the HS2 line on their community.

Mr Gillespie said: “We did show residents how big this thing will be.

“They were amazed.

“They realised how it will affect them.”

Mr Gillespie said people had shown an interest in finding out the facts about HS2 but there were some local people who had not fully appreciated the potentiial impact.

Properties in the village are earmarked for demolition if the line goes ahead.

The Barnburgh and Harlington Against HS2 Action Group has 35 members and is fighting the high speed rail scheme alongside other protest groups across the Rotherham and Dearne Valley area.