An Alsager resident and former chair of Alsager Town Council has given his and his party's views on the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2.

Philip Williams, a Liberal Democrat and chair of the Congleton Constituency Liberal Democrats, said he and his Party had all condemned the decision.  

Philip said: "A U-turn on commitments to 'levelling up' and to the north of England is only to be expected from the current Conservative Government.

"There are mixed views on HS2, of course, but its extension from Birmingham to Manchester was a central plank for regional development here in the North West.

"The regeneration of Crewe and contributions to major infrastructure works like the Middlewich By-pass were all dependent on HS2 and an already cash-strapped Cheshire East Council is going to find it even harder to achieve its plans for our region.

"There are a range of views on HS2 among Liberal Democrat supporters as there are within other political parties.

"We want to see much needed regeneration here in the north but we also regret the loss of open countryside and woodland habitats.

"What we have now though, is the worst of all possible outcomes. People have lost homes and livelihoods as their properties have been acquired to make way for a rail connection that will never take place.

"It would be some compensation if the Prime Minister fulfils his pledge to invest the money saved in much needed rail and other infrastructure improvements instead.

"What we need is more capacity on our railways, for passengers, for freight and for the long-neglected north of England to have more certainty and the railway infrastructure it both needs and deserves."