HS2 does not provide value for money, costs are escalating and is a waste of tax payers’ money.

So says Mid Cheshire Against HS2 in response to Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans’ support for the planned high speed link.

Speaking in a House of Commons debate on HS2, Mr Evans said the rail link was the right thing for the country, north west, greater Cheshire and Weaver Vale constituents.

He said: “It is a vital infrastructure project, and over the next few decades, High Speed 2 will play a fundamental role in reshaping our economy.

“Seventy per cent of jobs created by High Speed 2 are forecast to be outside London. We must look at High Speed 2 as part of an overall strategy for improving connectivity throughout the north-west.”

Mid Cheshire Against HS2 spokesman Graham Dellow said: “HS2 is a standalone project given its connectivity with the rest of the rail network is minimal.

“HS2 is futile - what is vital is the upgrading of railway lines all over the north west that connect towns such as Northwich, Widnes, Runcorn and Stockport with Manchester and Liverpool.

“Not only will HS2 not provide this connectivity, it will almost certainly further jeopardise it as investment is ploughed into HS2.

“The nightmare that is HS2 must be stopped, for many the dream is getting a seat on a reasonably comfortable train and being able to get from Northwich to Manchester in a reasonable time and on time.

“This is exactly what is being provided for Londoners with the construction of Crossrail and now even Crossrail 2 is being planned, while in the north west discussions have taken place about upgrading our railways with 40-year-old London Underground trains.

“It is undisputable that High Speed railways all over the world are capital centric. There is no doubt Crewe would benefit in the same way as Lille in France has.

“However it is worth pointing out that an HS2 Hub Station at Crewe, is far from being definite, in much the same way as the London HS2 terminus at Euston is far from being definite.

“At a recent meeting attended by Mid Cheshire Against HS2, it was said ‘everyone wants the stations and no one wants the track’.

“Even if there is eventually a Hub Station at Crewe the rest of Cheshire will be decimated by thousands and thousands of tonnes of concrete and steel.”