Council leader opposes plan to put Macclesfield on HS2 network

If the city fathers of Stoke-on-Trent succeed in their quest, Macclesfield could be on the HS2 network.

The business and city leaders in Stoke-on-Trent are due to launch their business case for a high-speed rail station in their city.

They will contest the Government and HS2 Ltd’s current plan to by-pass the city and route the second phase of the high-speed line through Crewe.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council argues its alternative route is greener, cheaper and will deliver benefits to more people. It suggests it would be £2bn cheaper for the tax payer because the Crewe route involves remodelling Crewe station.

HS2 Ltd chairman David Higgins is due to make his recommendations on October 27, before MPs make a decision but he recommended extending the route to Crewe in his initial report in March

Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Mohammed Pervez said: “The Stoke route would generate about £200m extra growth for the regional economy, while Crewe would not lose out.

It says the Stoke option is environmentally better as it is a shorter route over brownfield land rather than cutting through open countryside, that it would generate a minimum of £200m to the local economy and would be more effective at connecting more people as Stoke-on-Trent has a population of 250,000 compared with Crewe’s 70,000.

However, Cheshire East Council leader Michael Jones maintains that having the HS2 hub station at Crewe makes more sense.

“Crewe is the gateway to the north, south east and west and has the 360 degree connectivity needed for such a major project,” he said.

“We have always urged Stoke to work with us to ensure that the region benefits as a whole from the £1.5bn worth of inward investment that would follow and we stand by this.  Work with us, we say, and not against us and Stoke will benefit too.”

Work on the first phase of HS2 – linking London and Birmingham – is due to start in 2017 and complete in 2026. The second phase – linking in Manchester and Leeds is due to complete six years later.