Hundreds set to attend meeting opposing new HS2 route through Mexborough

Scores of people are expected to attend a public meeting tonight in opposition to plans for a new HS2 route through Mexborough that could lead to the demolition of hundreds of homes.
The partially finished Shimmer Estate in Mexborough faces being demolished to make way for a new HS2 route that would save the Government 1billionThe partially finished Shimmer Estate in Mexborough faces being demolished to make way for a new HS2 route that would save the Government 1billion
The partially finished Shimmer Estate in Mexborough faces being demolished to make way for a new HS2 route that would save the Government 1billion

The 'No High Speed Train' meeting will be held at Mexborough Academy at 6pm tonight to discuss the new route plans which were announced earlier this month.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend this evening's community meeting.

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Under the new plans, a proposed station at Meadowhall will be scrapped in favour of a Sheffield city centre stop, using a new route that would cut through bits of Mexborough and Denaby.

People living on the Shimmer estate in Mexborough, where houses are still being built by developers Strata, have received letters from HS2 stating it is 'likely that the Government would need to acquire some or all your land or property in order to construct the railway'.

Sean continued: "There are at least 200 houses on the Shimmer Estate that could be knocked down - and every one of those houses is someone's home where they've built a life.

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"I think because of the fact no-one's been told what's going on, or what's going to happen to their homes, everyone here is feeling very frustrated, which makes them want to oppose these plans.

"They've been told that they'll get market value, plus 10 per cent in compensation, but there was one woman who has a four bedroom, three-story house on the estate that cost her £150,000. The same house built by Strata in Balby cost an extra £70,000 and obviously the 10 per cent in compensation isn't going to cover the extra amount. Why should people be left worse off because of this?"

Representatives from Strata, HS2 Ltd Doncaster Council and Doncaster North MP, Ed Miliband have all been invited to attend tonight's meeting.

HS2 Ltd are also set to hold an information event tomorrow between midday at 7pm the Mexborough Resource Centre, where people will be invited to find out more about the project and what it could mean for the local area.

A formal consultation on the route is expected to be launched this Autumn, when plans are also expected to be presented to the Government.