WHO would have thought that the white elephant, that is HS2, would mean that more of our countryside would possibly be taken up by the construction of new Junction with the M6?

I bet the citizens of Lower Peover are delighted at the prospect.

In order to avoid the problems created by the 2013 route, HS2 designers merely drew a new line on a map and, hey presto, many more houses were in the firing line than there were with the 2013 route, as well as it having a devastating effect on important businesses in the south of Northwich.

Now, because a long stretch of the A556 would need to be re-aligned, the possibility of major road works to create a new Junction with the M6 is on our horizon.

Would this new Junction replace the recently upgraded Junction 19, just a mile or so north of Lower Peover?

Perhaps those engineers ensconced in Whitehall should venture out more and explain to us why our lives and businesses should be so disrupted, just so their new toy can be imposed upon us.

One has to wonder how they would react if this totally unnecessary project were to appear in their leafy locality.

Will more unintended consequences emerge from the shadows of HS2?

I have a feeling there will be more that will emerge from the shadows of HS2’s offices in Whitehall.

Ewen Simpson Whatcroft