A CAMPAIGN group has welcomed the Prime Minister's promise to review 'sinking ground' along the planned HS2 route through mid Cheshire.

Boris Johnson outlined his vision for 'High Speed North' last week, with a review to include another look at the HS2 route in the north of the country – and how best to integrate it with east-west projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail

He added that HS2 'must be developed with more sensitivity' to the environment and communities.

The route from Crewe to Pickmere is said by Mid Cheshire Against HS2 to be a very expensive section, with 'severe geotechnical challenges where it crosses the still sinking salt district of mid Cheshire'.

A MCAHS2 spokesman said: "Between Northwich and Middlewich, HS2 crosses the Trent and Mersey Canal at Billinge Flashes.

"This is a half-mile wide and several miles long area of still active and historic sinking ground with extensive salt solution subsidence flashes.

"It is underlain by an active natural underground brine run which was exacerbated by wild brine pumping initiated in 19th century, causing massive sink holes and canal collapse. The ground surface is still on the move today.

"As well as sinking ground, here HS2 threads it ways through extensive – and expensive – underground rock salt mining and salt solution mining industries exploiting Cheshire’s nationally important salt reserves from vast caverns; providing feedstock for the chemical industries of the north west.

"South of Middlewich to Northwich is the storage of our nationally important underground strategic gas reserves in specially designed giant underground salt cavities."

Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson asked Mr Johnson in the Commons: "How do we realise more benefits for towns such as Winsford in my constituency by integrating Northern Powerhouse Rail, the conventional rail network and HS2?

"Can the Prime Minister confirm that the Cheshire salt mines and the threat of sinkholes will be considered as part of the next review?

Mr Johnson replied: "I can certainly confirm that the threat of sinkholes from the Cheshire salt mines will be considered as part of the review."

A MCAHS2 spokesman added: "Let’s hope the ‘threat of sinkholes from the Cheshire salt mines’ and also the threat from natural sink holes and still active historic brine runs form a significant part of the review of HS2b.

"Otherwise, paraphrasing Mr Johnson – HS2b might end up as HS2b not to be."