HS2 meeting for worried Shropshire village

The move comes as Transport Secretary Chris Grayling unveiled more details for the second high speed route linking Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, despite fierce criticism.

Earlier this year bosses behind HS2, which plans to take passengers from London to the north west via the West Midlands, revealed that construction vehicles will make their way down the A525 to Woore, near Market Drayton.

Woore Parish Council is worried HS2 will site a construction depot in a village field and signs have been put up on farm land in the area in a bid to find the land owners.

In a statement on its website, the council said it was awaiting the publication of the government’s bill about the project which is expected to contain more details about the traffic management.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, Shropshire Council chiefs and representatives from the scheme will attend a public meeting at Woore Victory Hall on August 11 at 7.30pm.

Mr Grayling last night confirmed the second phase of the £55.7 billion project – with lines from Crewe to Manchester and Birmingham to Yorkshire – will go ahead.

The company building the high-speed rail link, which will run along the north east corner of the county, is consulting on the plans and says it will work to minimise the impact.

David Higgins, chairman of HS2 Ltd, added: “Today we have taken a huge step forward in connecting eight of our largest cities, freeing up space on our railways and building a catalyst for growth across the country.

“Once completed 30 million people will be served by HS2 across over 25 stations, helping to change the economic geography of the country, and bring prosperity to the midlands, the north, and beyond.”

Ministers also revealed the Bill that will see the line built through 45 miles of Staffordshire countryside, to the east of the Shropshire border.

It will include a controversial construction depot near Stone, in Staffordshire, that later could be turned into a huge maintenance facility.

The second phase lines are expected to open in 2033 – five years after the HS2 line from Birmingham to Crewe, and six after the phase one line from London to Birmingham.

It will mean journeys from Birmingham to Manchester will be halved in time, from 80 minutes to 40 minutes.

The Government hopes, by providing new routes for intercity services, it will free-up space on existing railways for new commuter, regional and freight services.

However, the route in South Yorkshire will mean new homes will have to be demolished.

Residents will lose their homes because ministers decided the line should serve the existing Sheffield city centre station.

The Shimmer housing estate in Mexborough in Doncaster is directly in line with the proposed route.

Houses built just a few years ago will be bulldozed to make way for the new route.

The Department for Transport said 16 properties on the Shimmer estate will go.

Some residents found out about the HS2 plans just weeks after moving into the development of two and three-storey town houses.

David Higgins, chairman of HS2 Ltd said the release of the routes was a significant development and he was confident it would become a reality.

He said: “We have taken a huge step forward in connecting eight of our largest cities, freeing up space on our railways and building a catalyst for growth across the country.

“Once completed 30 million people will be served by HS2 across over 25 stations, helping to change the economic geography of the country, and bring prosperity to the midlands, the north, and beyond.”

But Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin said: “Since the start, the case for HS2 has been invented by the very cheerleaders who intend to rake in billions of taxpayers’ money, which is why the cost of HS2 has already doubled.

“With reports saying the total cost may double again or even quadruple in the future, it really is time to ditch this gigantic white elephant, before it is too late.”

Preparatory work on phase one has already commenced, with construction starting in 2018 to 2019.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the Government would ensure communities affected by the railway receive “appropriate support and are treated with fairness, compassion and respect”.

He added: “As well as creating skilled jobs, apprenticeships and business opportunities, it will also mean real day-to-day improvements for people around the country.

“Britain’s new railway line will bring huge economic benefits across the country and help ensure this Government delivers on its promise to spread wealth beyond London and the south-east.”