THE confirmed route for the Phase 2b of HS2 will have a ‘devastating’ impact on Winsford, according to Antoinette Sandbach MP.

The route, announced on Monday, will see the high speed rail line go from Crewe to Manchester, dissecting Winsford and Middlewich and going straight through Whatcroft, 200 yards from Whatcroft Hall.

It will carry on north from Whatcroft, crossing the A530 King Street near to the Morrisons Distribution Centre and Penny’s Lane, before running alongside the A556.

Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury, said: “I recognise that the decision on HS2 made by the Secretary of State will have devastating effects on the community in Winsford and Wimboldsley.

“I will continue to work closely with all those residents affected to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve.

“It is also vital that the correct mitigation is provided going forward. I would urge any environmental experts to come forward over the coming months to give their views on the impact the route will have.”

The effects on Wimboldsley will come about due to the confirmed 4km-long depot that will be built next to Wimboldsley Primary School.

Carina Armstrong, Wimboldsley Parish Clerk, told the Guardian that the depot would mean the end of the parish in its current form.

Carina said: “We as a parish are totally devastated. We are devastated mentally now and we will be devastated physically. The parish will be split and we will lose residents. It would be the end of the parish for us.”

The campaign group commissioned an independent report in January, after the new route was proposed.

The report’s findings showed that there was a ‘high risk’ of land collapse above Winsford Salt Mine.

Mr Dellow added: “It would appear they have completely ignored that report. But we are not going to give up, that’s for sure. We have got to continue to fight it.

“The subsidence issues that the report highlighted over Winsford Salt Mine are a real problem for this route, but they will just pay more money to find a way around it. It seems that cost just isn’t a matter of concern anymore. They’re now talking of £100 billion for this project.

“The A533 will certainly have to be realigned from the Morrisons roundabout to the M6, but now there’s talk of just building a new motorway junction. The implications are massive.

“We know that all the work done by HS2 so far, has been cursory desktop work, and when they start the real surveying they’ll realise how big of a job it is. But by that point it will be too late, and they will just throw more and more money at it.”