AN MP has told Government of the damage she believes HS2 will cause to the area – as she reiterated her plea to scrap the project and spend the money improving local transport services and digital infrastructure instead.

Tatton MP Esther McVey said the line is causing untold stress for residents, will damage Cheshire’s existing landscape and was not as environmentally friendly as suggested.

Speaking in Parliament she said many residents had faced 12 years of threat from HS2, large numbers were not entitled to any compensation scheme and could not sell their houses. Other constituents were struggling to mitigate issues with HS2 Ltd but had got nowhere describing the situation as “hitting a brick wall.”

In the time permitted Ms McVey said it was impossible to name all areas affected, but said some residents could face 10 years of noise, dust, and light pollution from the project. She also highlighted the continual changes in plans and disruption that is causing for residents.

Ms McVey said: “The land-grab is significant too, and residents cannot understand how the information keeps changing so significantly. The land-grab between the Morrisons roundabout and the Lostock triangle is 150 per cent greater on January 2022 maps than in the October 2018 working draft.”

Ms McVey also dismissed suggestions the line was environmentally friendly and pointed to Government’s own figures which predict just one per cent switch from plane to rail and a further four per cent from car to rail. Ms McVey also said 1.5 million tonnes of carbon will be released in the construction stages and HS2 will produce a net increase in carbon emissions for 120 years.

She added: “The line will cause huge devastation across Cheshire, as documented by Mid Cheshire Against HS2, which has described it as a running scar from Crewe to Manchester.

"It has calculated that, across Cheshire, HS2 will irreparably damage five internationally protected wildlife sites, 639 local wildlife sites, 108 ancient woodlands and 33 legally protected scientific sites. Although Government talks about new trees being planted, I am sure that we can all see the difference between saplings and ancient woodland.”

Ms McVey thanked Ashley parish council, Lach Dennis and Lostock Green parish council, Mid Cheshire Against HS2 and geologist Ros Todhunter for “their tireless work in unearthing the shortcomings of HS2 both in terms of the fundamental concept of the line and its business case.”

The Tatton MP made clear Government should scrap the project and spend the money on local transport, the east-west line across the north of England and reliable broadband which would benefit everyone.