MORE than 60 campaigners against HS2 have attended a socially distanced walk to discuss grave concerns about the project.

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The residents, from Winterbottom Lane, Hoo Green, Millington, Little Bollington, Agden, and High Legh, met up over the weekend of May 22 and 23 and did so in a covid-secure manner, with numbers limited.

Cllr Nigel Hennerley, from High Legh, who was one of those in attendance, thinks Covid has resulted in information being shielded from the public.

He said: "The walks were very well attended.

"HS2 is going to impact our area massively and we think much of this discussion has been shielded from public view during Covid.

"There will be a groundswell of public opinion as these plans become more transparent.

"HS2 will be presenting their plans for Phase 2b to parliament either later this year or early 2022.

"The public will need to act now to help influence these decisions."

Knutsford Guardian: Affected residents met for a walk and talk about the HS2 plans

Affected residents met for a walk and talk about the HS2 plans

Cllr Hennerley also went on to say he doesn't think the plans for HS2 will ever be carbon neutral in their lifetime, which doesn't seem to fit with the world, post-Covid.

He said: "Many people feel that post Covid HS2 will not provide for our needs in the future, and could be altered to better cater for what we actually do need in the face of climate breakdown.

"HS2 will not be carbon neutral in its entire 120-year projected life time when we factor in construction.

"As the full impacts of the Phase 2b design was discussed including the Hulsheath Spur, Liverpool to London line and the Warrington to Manchester Airport line along with the HS2 main line, it became very clear how the whole area would be devastated, by a total of four railway lines in both directions making a total of eight lines."

Knutsford Guardian: Affected residents met for a walk and talk about the HS2 plans

Around 60 residents met for a walk and talk about the HS2 plans

With eleven UK airports having passenger expansion plans in place over the course of the decade, HS2 will connect both Manchester and Birmingham so is very much part of those plans.

"HS2 by proposed completion would have been designed some forty-five years previously," Cllr Hennerley added.

"In a post-Covid world all our largest employers have recognised that a hybrid two to three days in the office will be the norm.

Spread over the week this will reduce the size of office space and also have huge impacts on our public transport systems.

"We need to concentrate on building for what we need to thrive, not on HS2 in the false hope that it will somehow deliver something else that we do need."