The HS2 rail project is facing controversy over a £100 million shield designed to protect bats in Buckinghamshire’s ancient woods. With over 8,000 consents needed for the project, officials express frustration with the regulatory process. Protecting endangered species such as Bechstein’s bats introduces significant costs and complexities into infrastructure projects. Critics, including MPs, call the situation ‘ridiculous,’ emphasizing the need for reform in planning processes to reduce delays and expenses. As HS2’s total cost escalates to potentially £66 billion, concerns mount about the efficiency of public spending in the face of stringent environmental protections.