Cheshire East leaders have called for an urgent meeting with government to discuss compensation and appropriate funding for the borough, after Rishi Sunak scrapped the northern leg of HS2.

Council leader Sam Corcoran (Labour), said although the council's reserves at £14.1m are an improvement on the £10.3m under the Conservative administration in 2019, the low levels make the council vulnerable to external shocks 'and we had a massive shock when HS2 was cancelled'.

Cheshire East has already invested £11m in preparations for HS2 coming to Crewe, with £8m of that having to be written off.

Cheshire East Council leader, Sam Corcoran (Cheshire East Council).

Cllr Corcoran told Wednesday's (October 18) meeting of the full council: "I have seen criticism of the council for investing so much on HS2 coming to Crewe.

"We live in a strange world where you cannot rely on a government to stand by legislation that it passed just two years ago."

Crewe West councillor, Connor Naismith (Labour), said the decision to scrap HS2 north of Birmingham 'represents a serious betrayal of the potential of Crewe and the wider area by this government'.

Deputy council leader Craig Browne (Independent), who chairs the highways and transport committee, said the announcement was a devastating blow to Crewe and Cheshire East, 'particularly given that our regeneration and economic growth plans have for almost a decade been developed on the premise of HS2'.

Cheshire East Council deputy leader and chair of the highways and transport committee, Cllr Craig Browne (Cheshire East Council).

He told the meeting: "The Prime Minister has given a promise every single penny that would have been spent on phase 2a and 2b will be reinvested with £36bn for new transport projects.

"However, the new Network North plans fail to make any reference to Crewe, the borough or the transport aspirations of our residents.

"The lack of consultation, not only with the affected communities but also with parliament itself as the sovereign decision maker, is a concern."

Cllr Browne said Crewe is set to lose approximately £750m in economic growth as a result of the PM's decision as well as 5,000 jobs which will now not come to the town.

He added: "Commitments HS2 have made to match-fund elements of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass and A500 dualling are now in question.

"The leader and I have written to the minister seeking an urgent meeting to discuss both compensation and appropriate funding for Cheshire East."

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