Crewe & Nantwich MP Connor Naismith has met with MPs across Cheshire and Staffordshire to discuss rail development and projects that could benefit the counties.
The meeting was hosted by Sarah Edwards MP and included representatives from Northern Powerhouse Partnership, West Midlands Combined Authority, HS2 Ltd, High Speed Rail Group, West Coast Partnership Development and Avanti West Coast.
Dear Editor,
This proposal for a new rail line through Cheshire feels like an attempt to revive the failed and unwanted HS2 project under a different name.
Cheshire residents have already spent years opposing HS2, which was cancelled due to escalating costs, significant disruption, and a lack of meaningful benefits to local communities.
The A500 between Nantwich and Shavington is set for major surfacing works this summer.
Motorists are being warned of road closures and disruption between July and September on the main route connecting Nantwich and Crewe to the M6 motorway.
Plans to dual the A500 between Meremoor Moss roundabout and the M6 are back under review after the cancellation of the HS2 high speed railway.
Cheshire East says it is hoping to modify its plans for the dualling of the section in response to the decision to axe the HS2 section between Crewe and Birmingham.
Cheshire East Council is to be allocated more than £180 million to be invested in improving local transport, the Government has announced.
It’s part of the £1.5 billion of reallocated HS2 funding being invested in the North West through the Local Transport Fund.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is still trying to claw back the money it spent on HS2 after the government scrapped the northern leg of the scheme last year.
The council spent £11m preparing for HS2 coming to Crewe and £8.6m of that will now have to be written off if the government doesn’t cough up.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council has applied to the government for exceptional financial support in the form of a capitalisation direction for up to £17.6m.
This means the council won’t receive extra money but is able to create a “negative reserve” similar to that already in place for the overspend on the special educational needs budget.
Cheshire East Council say they are “disappointed” the Government has removed “safeguarding” along the axed HS2 Phase 2a route into South Cheshire.
The Dept of Transport announced last week safeguarding would be lifted, which means land acquired as part of the planned route is no longer protected and could now be sold or potentially developed for other projects.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is to continue negotiating with the Government for compensation after the scrapping of HS2, amid fears the cancellation of the northern leg could plunge the council into financial crisis.
The council had already invested £11m in preparations for HS2 coming to Crewe.
The Government is “giving up” on Crewe and Nantwich rather than “levelling up”, claims the constituency’s Labour candidate.
Connor Naismith hit out after the recipients of Round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund was unveiled – with Cheshire East Council’s bids missing out.
Dear Editor,
When the government announced its plans to scrap HS2, the region around Crewe was devastated but now it appears that there may be a silver lining to the cancellation.
Questions are being asked by residents of the village of Audlem in Cheshire as to whether, with the plans the government has announced to open more branch lines and invest more locally in the north west, the old train line to Audlem which finally closed in 1967 is going to be reopened and the station rebuilt!
Cheshire East Council bosses say they are pursuing “fair and equitable” compensation and investment from Government following the decision to scrap HS2 north of Birmingham
CEC politicians are demanding compensation for the loss of an “unprecedented economic opportunity”.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council should suspend proposed parking and green bin charges until it knows how it will be financially compensated for the scrapping of HS2, a councillor said.
Cllr Reg Kain (Lib Dem) said if the council had committed £11m to HS2, of which £8m had already been spent, then the additional £3m would be returned to the council budget.
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