THE delay in announcing the final HS2 route has added ‘twelve months of blight’ to residents in Culcheth and Croft, claimed parish councillor Mike Vobe.

Members of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council quizzed senior representatives from HS2 Ltd in a meeting at Glazebury Methodist Church on the latest developments in the proposed HS2 scheme.

At the meeting, parish councillor Peter Caswell called for more information on HS2’s Exceptional Hardship Scheme and pushed for advice surgeries to be launched.

Clr Vobe said: “We are dismayed that a final decision on the route has not yet been announced.

“For our villages, all this leaves us with is a further twelve months during which many people will suffer from blight and are unable to sell their homes.

“The Secretary of State has the power to stop us from remaining in that limbo and should bring the date of his announcement forward.”

Councillor Chris Vobe, who chaired the meeting, added: “HS2 Ltd’s commitment to hold advice surgeries with councillors to discuss individual circumstances will be very helpful.

“The biggest issue affecting Culcheth and Newchurch is housing blight. It is vital that HS2 Ltd help as many people as possible through their Exceptional Hardship Scheme.”