DO we really want to put local jobs at risk, for example the hundreds at Morrisons, Roberts Bakery and those in Gadbrook Park?

Do we really want to see vital farming’ interests decimated with no possibility of re-locating to other farms of equal acreage, again endangering local employment?

Do we really want to risk a rail line with massive embankments and viaducts being built on geologically unsound ground?

Do we really want to suffer the chaos that will engulf a large area of Cheshire for a project that will bring no benefit to the north of England, despite what its proponents believe?

Do we really believe that the A556, one of the busiest roads in Cheshire, should be realigned so that HS2 can be built?

Imagine the chaos this will cause; not just for a few months, but for several years.

Those who recently purchased houses bordering the A556 must be wondering what has hit them.

Do we really believe Graham Evans MP when he stated that HS2 would bring on economic nirvana to Northwich, easy to say but difficult to quantify and justify; even the Treasury Select Committee is very doubtful as to the validity of the business case.

Do we really believe the seventh attempt at forecasting passenger numbers, when they forecast 300,000 per day? This represents an increase of 275,000 over current usage. It should be noted that the Department for Transports passenger forecasts for HS1 are currently 66 per cent under forecast, 10 million per year as opposed to the forecast of 30 million per year.

So do we really believe that HS2 will carry 110 million passengers each year, of whom 50 million are predicted to be tourists?

Do we really want the Government to sanction the spending of an additional £750m required just by switching the route from one geologically unsound choice in 2013 to an equally unsound choice in 2016?

Finally, for the moment, do you not believe that £55 billion - or £90 billion as forecast by the Taxpayers Alliance - could not be better spent on such as the NHS and mental health care, affordable housing or other projects that would benefit millions of us rather than on HS2 that will only benefit a few.

Ewen Simpson Whatcroft