ANTI-HS2 campaigners have slammed the announcement of the preferred route for the second phase of the high speed rail scheme as ‘an absolute disaster for the people of Cheshire’.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed today the majority of the preferred HS2 route from Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds.

There are seven refinements to the route on which the Department of Transport is consulting.

These include moving the route in the Middlewich – Northwich area up to 800 metres westwards, taking it closer to Rudheath and Broken Cross.

Reacting to the announcement, Graham Dellow from Mid Cheshire Against HS2 said: “The announcement is an absolute disaster for the people of Cheshire.

“More people are now affected, we have an HS2 depot to contend with and one stretch of the route will now be four track rather than two.

“It would appear that whilst HS2 Ltd and the Government have avoided a potential clash with gas storage, they have taken very little notice of the adverse geological conditions in Cheshire that will make a high speed railway extremely expensive to build and potentially dangerous.

“Eddisbury MP Antoinette Sandbach is arranging a public meeting for Saturday, December 17.”

Mr Grayling said: “The full HS2 route will be a game-changer for the country that will slash journey times and perhaps most importantly give rail passengers on the existing network thousands of extra seats every day.

“But while it will bring significant benefits, I recognise the difficulties faced by communities along the route.

“They will be treated with fairness, compassion and respect and, as with Phase One, we intend to introduce further compensation which goes over and above what is required by law.”