SUPPORTERS of High Speed Two say Warrington will not miss out on the new service which is being proposed.

Council chief executive Steven Broomhead said there was ‘little to benefit’ Warrington in the current plans while this week Helen Jones MP said the scheme has not been thought through properly.

Residents in Culcheth, Glazebrook and Lymm are all worried about the Manchester extension ripping up their countryside.

But David Thrower, a supporter of HS2, planner and Stockton Heath resident, said Warrington will not miss out.

He added: “Although the new route burrows beneath Crewe station and then, after a junction near the M56, swings north eastwards to Manchester another extension reaches northwards and extends up to near Wigan.

“Connecting lines at Crewe and at Wigan will enable the planned supertrains to leave the new line and join the existing West Coast Main Line.

“And that’s the important bit for many north west residents.

Because these through trains, after coming from the south at 225mph, will then be able to continue at a lower speed on existing tracks, to serve many other key centres.

“For example, Warrington Bank Quay will involve just 15 minutes’ travel over existing lines after leaving the new line south of Crewe, which will mean the town will see journey times from the South cut by half an hour.”

Supporters say the extension, due to happen around 2035, will see 60,000 jobs created and pump £44billion into the economy.

Susan Williams, director of the North West Rail Campaign, said: “This is fantastic news for the north west. Connectivity will be crucial in growing our economy, connecting people with jobs and cities with each other.”