CHESHIRE East Council is urging people to join its conversation on the HS2 high-speed rail link.

The authority told the Guardian it understands that people want to know what this means for them and for their communities and wants them to help shape its future discussions with HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport.

Since the Government’s preferred route was announced, Cheshire East has been analysing what it could mean for the area, and has published a variety of detail at cheshireeast.gov.uk/hs2, including a detailed breakdown of where the line is proposed to run.

The council believes it will bring real benefits to Cheshire East, including a high-speed service taking passengers from Crewe to London in 58 minutes, with two services each hour and a maintenance depot at Basford sidings at Crewe, creating between 200 and 300 jobs.

Right now, the council wants to hear what the people think – what are the main benefits and drawbacks to them, their families and businesses?

This will help Cheshire East to represent their views as strongly as possible when the official consultation period on the route is announced by the Government later this year.

Ian Jordan, HS2 Ltd director for Leeds, Manchester and Heathrow, has indicated that people whose properties face demolition will be given compensation at “fair, unblighted market value”.

To get involved visit cheshire east.gov.uk/hs2 and fill in our online web form, call 01270 686022 or e-mail hs2enquiries@cheshireeast.gov.uk

A consultation on the Exceptional Hardship Scheme, which aims to provide assistance for those property owners potentially more adversely affected by the proposal, will close on April 29.

People can take part at hs2.org.uk