Parish councillor hits out at Shropshire Council over HS2

Earlier this month Councillor Steve Davenport said that the county council was fully engaged with HS2 and Woore Parish Council over the worries of villagers that the construction of the high speed railway could negatively impact on Woore.

But Mike Cowey has said this claim is inaccurate, adding that only two representatives of the council showed up to a walk organised by Woore councillors after four were invited.

The walk was intended to show the adverse effects, which, it’s claimed, would be the result of HS2’s proposed route being accepted.

Mr Cowey, vice chairman of the parish council, said: “The hundreds of goods vehicles will not use just the A525 but will also use the A51 and A53.

"This will impact on the whole of Woore parish as well as on surrounding communities, including other parts of Shropshire, particularly northern Shropshire.

“Following the cancellation of an HS2 meeting which was organised by Sir Bill Cash MP and which was to be held at Whitmore Village Hall in early February, the parish council has repeatedly tried to arrange a meeting with Councillor Davenport.”

Mr Cowey also took exception to Mr Davenport’s assertion that ‘the highway modifications are proposed to be temporary at the outset’ and that ‘if it is considered that any modifications would be beneficial to local communities in the longer term, they could also be retained beyond the construction phase’.

Mr Cowey said: “The reality is that none of the proposed modifications would benefit the local community.”

He also alleged other communities had received considerable support from councils ‘but Woore Parish Council has received no support from Shropshire Council’.