Woore residents' relief at scrapping of HS2

Residents of a village earmarked as a construction route for the northern leg of HS2 have said they are relieved the project has been scrapped.

Woore in Shropshire faced an increase in traffic while Phase 2a, to link Birmingham to Manchester, was realised.

But the government cancelled the extension due to costs on Wednesday.

Sally Tyson, whose family's land was to be used, said the project had been "a blatant waste of money and they've not even put a rail on the ground yet".

She added she was "glad" it was all over, but feared any "Plan B".

"They were taking land off my partner. We're still not sure whether the land's going," she explained.

Peter Roberts, chair of trustees of Victory Hall in the village, said "600-plus heavy lorries" a day were scheduled to travel through Woore "for many years" to help build "compounds" and a tunnel near Madeley.

A local action group was formed to try to stop the plan and suggest the alternative of using an old rail line as a construction route rather than narrow country lanes.

He added, however, that sentiments were mixed. Some people, he said, may have wanted the rail link to happen as applications for government funding could have upgraded the hall with improved heating and lighting.

"So on the village hall point of view we say 'boo'," he explained, "but on a personal note, one may say 'hooray' - so it's a difficult one."

Karen, who works in a shop in the village, said she was pleased as the heavy traffic would cause her health issues.

"I'm really relieved, really, really relieved, because I suffer with asthma. [It was] concerning me about the volume of heavy traffic coming through and what it would do to my breathing.

"In the long run, it's good news."

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