THE route of the proposed HS2 rail line through Cheshire has just been published and this will be key to establishing the north west in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’.

This must generate investment and grow our local economy.

Construction, transport, infrastructure, housing, commercial and industrial projects will all benefit our families and our futures.

In Northwich, local government employees are part of the Cheshire Pension Fund which invests over £4 billion on behalf of 86,000 members in over 220 councils and organisations based in the wider Cheshire area, providing us all with services and benefits.

But the CPF 2016 Annual Report shows investments in property and buildings in the already overheated south east, and the rest of the UK.

Page 30 shows the biggest property assets held by the fund totalling over £190 million, are in Southampton, London, Canterbury, Leicester, Bristol and other places.

Not Northwich.

Obviously fund managers must invest wisely and secure good financial returns. But is there no confidence locally?

As it stands our communities will lose out, because training, employment, construction and extra trade will not happen here.

Local government should seek to promote growth.

Investments here would give growth here, not the rest of the UK.

Northwich would benefit from extra prosperity and a more secure future as the economy expands.

Extra wealth and employment will support our benefits and services here.

The current investment decisions made by pension trustees and their London based fund managers must be reviewed, to boost our area.

How can the pension fund for the employees who work in local government, local schools and local housing continue these property investments in the rest of the UK?

Dave Plunkett Chester