RURAL communities in Northwich are continuing their fight against a new high speed rail link for the UK.

The proposed route of Phase Two of the £32billion High Speed Two (HS2) line was revealed in January, with the Birmingham to Manchester leg running through Whatcroft, Lach Dennis, Lostock Green, Lostock Gralam and Pickmere.

Concerned parish councils have made HS2 one of their top priorities since the announcement, with recent meetings focusing heavily on the issue.

In Lostock, parish councillors invited Joe Rukin of the Stop HS2 campaign group to their March meeting.

Joe, coordinator of the national campaign group, suggested residents form their own action groups and work together to fight the plans.

He said: “I have advised residents about setting up a public meeting and forming an action group and getting on with it.

“It’s all about people power.

“All the new people coming on board campaigning need to make the government think again about HS2.”

Nicola Clarke, clerk to Lostock Gralam Parish Council told the Guardian: “The parish council has asked Cheshire West and Chester Council to hold a public meeting, run by the ward councillors of affected areas, to listen to the public.

“We had 30 or 40 members of the public attending our last meeting.

“The parish council knows as much as anyone else but we are committed to campaigning against the line and, if necessary, obtaining the best compensation we can for affected residents.”

For more information about the Stop HS2 campaign group, email Joe Rukin at joe@stophs2.org