HS2 campaigners are set to see plans for the high speed rail link come under the spotlight at a full meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC).

A STOP HS2 petition organised by Mid Cheshire Against HS2 has attracted more than 1,600 names, exceeding the total needed to trigger a discussion on the issue at borough council level.

If a petition attracts 1,500 signatures it will be scheduled, should the petition organisers wish it to be, for a discussion at a full meeting of CWAC.

The campaign group had collected more than 1,200 names over the past year, and made an extra push recently to take the total past the 1,500 mark, knocking on doors in the local area to get the extra names needed.

The petition is due to be presented to the council by Cllr Mark Stocks on February 26, with a view to the issue being scheduled for discussion at a forthcoming meeting.

Cllr Stocks is opposed to the route of HS2 through Cheshire.

“We started collecting names for a petition by going around street markets and stalls because we wanted to demonstrate that we had the support of the general public,” said Ewen Simpson, media officer for Mid Cheshire Against HS2.

“Then we heard about the possibility of having HS2 discussed at a full meeting of the council, and the aim of the petition is to get the council to debate all aspects of HS2.”

The move to have the planned high speed link discussed at full council level was initiated by Ros Todhunter, a member of Mid Cheshire Against HS2.

The group is inviting Guardian readers to add their names to the online petition section on its website, Mid Cheshire Against HS2.

The section where you can add your name is at the bottom of the home page.

We are running a poll on our website, northwichguardian.co.uk, where we are asking readers to have their say on the £50 billion scheme.

We are asking people to tell us whether they are in favour of the scheme, and currently the vote stands at 89 per cent against and 11 per cent in favour.