ANTI-HS2 campaigners say the number of people who attended a public meeting showed the ‘massive groundswell’ of opposition to the whole project.

The claim by Graham Dellow from Mid Cheshire Against HS2 follows a meeting over changes to the planned route for the high speed rail link.

The meeting took place at Winsford Academy, and was organised by Eddisbury MP Antoinette Sandbach following the announcement on November 15 of the modified route through Mid Cheshire of Phase 2 of HS2.

“The fact that nearly 300 people attended the meeting proves beyond any shadow of doubt that there is a massive groundswell in the Eddisbury constituency against the whole HS2 project,” said Mr Dellow.

“The audience gave Mid Cheshire Against HS2 a clear mandate to carry on with their work trying to stop HS2 destroying homes, businesses and thousands of acres of fertile farmland in Cheshire.”

HS2 Ltd is holding information events in January and February where people can find out more about the proposed route changes and property compensation and assistance schemes.

They include events at Crewe Alexandra Football Club on Thursday, January 5, and Wincham Hall Hotel, Hall Lane, Wincham, on Friday, January 6, both from midday to 8pm.

Mr Dellow thanked Antoinette Sandbach for arranging the meeting at Winsford Academy.

He said: “The audience could not believe the decision that HS2 Ltd has made to relocate a two-mile long maintenance depot from a brownfield industrial site north of Warrington to a greenfield site near Wimboldsley, on which cows are currently grazing.

“If the depot is built it will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and will cause noise, air and light pollution. This is not acceptable in what is primarily a rural farming area.”

Antoinette Sandbach said: “I am very grateful for the 300 people who attended the meeting.

“They raised a large number of concerns and my office, along with Mid-Cheshire Against HS2, will do everything we can to help them in the uncertain time they now face.”

A HS2 Ltd spokesman said: “HS2 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dramatically improve journeys between the Midlands and the North, and London, boosting capacity, improving connectivity and helping to rebalance the national economy.

“We are committed to working with communities to understand and address their concerns.

“We encourage people to attend the information events which will be held in mid-Cheshire in January and to take part in the public consultations before they close on March 9.”

People can contact Mid Cheshire Against HS2 at mid-cheshire-against-hs2.co.uk, on Facebook and Twitter, or email mcahs2@yahoo.co.uk