RESIDENTS have a right to hear what Cheshire West councillors think about the proposed HS2 rail link.

That is the view of councillor Mark Stocks, who has won backing for his call for a working group to be set up to look at the benefits and impact of HS2 on the local area.

Cllr Stocks made his call at a full meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Council in opening a discussion on the proposed link sparked by a petition organised by anti-HS2 campaigners.

Cllr Stocks is opposed to the proposed route of HS2 through Cheshire, and the petition was organised by Mid Cheshire Against HS2, which was represented among local residents opposed to HS2 who attended Thursday’s meeting.

“To date our response to HS2 has not been as open, transparent and inclusive as it should have been,” said Cllr Stocks.

He said the report submitted by the council as a consultation response in 2014 included very little about the local ground conditions or the opposition to HS2 in local communities.

“The report was produced without speaking to a single ward member in the affected area, and I’m appalled that this report was submitted in the way and manner it was,” he said.

“The communities have a right to hear what our views on HS2 are.

“I believe we do need to see major investment in our rail infrastructure. We don’t need HS2 to do that.

“If we have £52 billion available to spend let’s improve the network we’ve got and help deliver better rail services to our communities now.”

Councillors supported his call for the issue of HS2 to be referred to the council’s Cabinet for consideration to go to the local growth and prosperity panel with a view to them setting up a working group to establish the benefits and impact HS2 would have on the Cheshire West and Chester area.

Lostock Green resident Ros Todhunter, a chartered geologist who has worked in the mining industry, addressed the meeting and spoke of her concerns about local ground conditions in relation to the proposed HS2 route and upgrading Cheshire West’s rail services.

Ros is a member of Mid Cheshire Against HS2, and called for an integrated, modern rail infrastructure for Cheshire and the UK which supports jobs and economic prosperity, which she said should go ahead independent of HS2 and was not consequent upon it.

Cllr Gareth Anderson agreed such a major issue as HS2 needed to be discussed openly, and residents and businesses needed to be involved in that discussion.

Cllr Matt Bryan said there were “massive” environmental and economic issues to address from both sides of the argument, which needed serious consideration with the most up-to-date information.

Cllr Alan McKie said the council had to listen to “all parties” before reaching a decision on HS2, and acknowledged residents would feel strongly about HS2 if their homes were affected.

Cllr Brian Clarke said the council should take the opportunity to look at the concerns raised over the high speed link.