CAMPAIGNERS are growing increasingly frustrated at being denied a meeting with their Tatton MP to discuss concerns over the £50billion HS2 high-speed rail link.

Following government publication of Hybrid Bill, a bid to get the first stage of HS2 started, hundreds of campaigners – including the Mid Cheshire Against HS2 group – visited Parliament earlier this week.

The group were unable to secure a meeting with MP George Osborne and were told he instead has agreed to talk with parish council, Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council representatives.

The meeting is understood to be taking place on Friday, December 13 and campaigners have questioned whether the 18 parishes affected by HS2 will all have the opportunity to relay the fears of thier constituents.

“We believe he’s been a little economical with the truth,” said Mid Cheshire Against HS2 member Graham Dellow.

“We continue to put pressure on him to meet the constituents that are not parish or ward councillors.

“I believe the Prime Minister, David Cameron, holds surgeries, so there is mounting pressure for George Osborne to carry out what we believe to be our democratic right.

“You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to realise HS2 is pretty poor value for money, it seems amazing they can’t see or don’t want to see that, perhaps it’s a vanity project, but it doesn’t add up.”

Mr Osborne is instead encouraging residents to check with their local councillors their views will be represented at the meeting.

“I’m always available to meet with constituents,” he said.

“But because many residents from various parts of the Tatton constituency have contacted me about HS2, I felt it best to hold another meeting with representatives from those areas, to brief them and answer their questions and concerns.

“They can then return to their parishes and speak with their constituents.”

However, fellow campaigner Ros Todhunter is disappointed this is not the first time she has failed to secure an audience with the MP.

“It’s not just the issue of HS2, it’s been the issue of the crematorium with everything coming through the village and people trying to meet him.

“It’s frustrating, he writes politely back but with a bland statement and asks how it affects us personally, but we want to talk to him about it as a national issue.”

HS2 Ltd are running information events about the development at Tatton Park on Friday, December 6 between 12 and 8pm and Saturday, December 7 from 10am to 5pm in the Tenants Hall.