Response on HS2 report

Cheshire East Council has defended the economic case for the North West for building HS2 following criticism from a House of Lords economic affairs committee.

Commenting on the Lords' Economic Committee report, Cheshire East Council's Executive Director of Economic Development and Growth, Caroline Simpson said: "HS2 is a game changer for the country.

"It is about the long-term future of the economic prosperity of the UK as a whole, generating sustainability and continued growth.

"HS2 will not just rebalance the economy but will bring about faster connectivity between the North of England and the South East, Heathrow and Canary Wharf in particular.

"The economic case is robust and stands up to scrutiny.

"It will make an enormous difference to a town such as Crewe in Cheshire East, which has suffered high levels of unemployment in the past.

"Building an HS2 Superhub at Crewe will create 64,000 jobs and generate £3.5bn a year to the wider Cheshire economy.

"As a council we feel this is the right way forward, not just for the town of Crewe and the North West but for the whole of the country."

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