CAMPAIGNERS who have led the battle against HS2 in Cheshire say they welcome the recently-announced review into the scheme – but fear it could be whitewashed.

The Government announced last Wednesday that an independent review into the proposed high-speed railway will be conducted by retired engineer Douglas Oakervee, the former chairman of HS2 Ltd, to establish ‘whether and how we proceed’ with it.

But Mike Slater, chairman of Mid Cheshire Against HS2, says the review will only be worthwhile if it ‘really is fair and independent’.

He said: “Given all the recent negative news about the project and its ballooning costs and shifting ‘benefits’, it is about time that a review into the entire HS2 project was called.

“We remain cautious, however, about the independence of this review given that it will be chaired by an ex-chairman of HS2 Ltd and hope that the review will not prove to be an exercise in devising ever more spurious benefits to justify the project.”

The group is also concerned that the terms of reference for the review are too narrow – focusing mainly on the value for money of the £56 billion project.

In particular, it wants the review to also focus on the environment, with more than 100 ancient woodlands, sensitive habitats and Cheshire farmlands all set to be hit by the high-speed railway.

Secretary Graham Dellow added: “The real costs of environmental destruction, combined with the unimaginable cost to the region’s economy by compromising our main arterial routes for several years, need to be monetised and included within the terms of reference for this review.

“This review needs to balance the gushing claims for the supposed economic benefits of HS2 with the reality checks about the massive costs, disruption and environmental damage HS2 will cause.

“We hope that it won’t turn out to be a sham review. In the meantime, we have to continue to endure local rail and road transport routes that are gridlocked, expensive and creaking at the seams.

“We’re convinced that HS2 is poor value for money and that cancelling the project would free up a huge amount of money for better transport investments that would benefit far more people.”

The terms of reference include whether HS2 Ltd is in a position to deliver the project effectively, the full range of benefits from the project and the full range of costs of the project – including any opportunities to make savings.

The review will also consider whether the assumptions behind the business case – such as passenger numbers and train frequencies – are realistic.

The cost of cancelling or scaling down the project will also be considered, as well as whether the railway in the north could be prioritised over the southern sections of HS2.

Possible reductions in the scheme include reducing its speed, building only Phase 1 between Birmingham and London, combining Phases 1 and 2a between London and Crewe, and ‘different choices or phasing’ of Phase 2b between Crewe, Manchester and Leeds.

Announcing the review on Wednesday, transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that transport infrastructure has the potential to drive economic growth, redistribute opportunity and support towns and cities across the UK, but that investments must be subject to continuous assessment of their costs and benefits.

READ > MPs welcome review into HS2

“That’s why we are undertaking this independent and rigorous review of HS2. Douglas Oakervee and his expert panel will consider all the evidence available and provide the department with clear advice on the future of the project.”

A final report is due in the autumn.