HS2 was supposed to bring pride back to Crewe, not just thousands of jobs. Now the town's leaders have been left wondering what to do next
Living with immunodeficiency: 'Nothing has changed for me since Covid. I’m still shielding.'HS2 was supposed to bring pride back to Crewe, not just thousands of jobs. Now the town’s leaders have been left wondering what to do nextIronically, it was the decline of the railway industry – which once supported at least 20,000 jobs in the town – which was supposed to be
But beyond the numbers, HS2 was also supposed to put Britain’s original railway town back on the map.“It reminded people that this is a rail town and it brought a bit of pride, it gave everybody a lift. It’s such a shame that momentum has been lost.”– the Prime Minister did not mention the town once in his speech and council and business leaders have been left devastated.
Council leaders are now waiting to see whether there is any scope for a legal challenge on the Government’s decision. Labour leader of the council, Sam Corcoran, also suggested the Government should be offering the authority compensation – he said at least £11m has been spent on HS2 already.