Sheffield Council leader Julie Dore stands firm on city centre HS2 after renewed Meadowhall station calls from Rotherham and Doncaster

Sheffield Council leader Julie Dore is standing firm on proposals for a city centre HS2 station despite neighbouring leaders renewing calls for Meadowhall to serve the county.

Doncaster mayor Ros Jones and Rotherham Council leader Chris Read made submissions to the independent Oakervee Review which is looking into the viability of HS2 due to spiralling costs, increasing number of demolitions and loss of ancient woodland.

Both leaders are calling on the government to revert to the original plan for a South Yorkshire station at Meadowhall.

But Sheffield Council launched an intense lobbying campaign for a city centre station after feeling left out with core cities like Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham all getting central stations.

City leaders argued there was a smaller economic case at Meadowhall and any decision to revert to the original proposal would ‘cost jobs’ according to Coun Dore.

The Department for Transport agreed to a city centre station at Midland but critics argued a spur route off the main high speed line near Clay Cross in Derbyshire was not part of the HS2 funding plans as well as the route back onto the line near Goldthorpe in Barnsley.

The change also led to a big increase in demolitions along the Rotherham/Doncaster boundary – most notably in Mexborough were 52 homes are set to be knocked down on the Shimmer estate.

“We respect the position of Rotherham and Doncaster which is consistent with the view they have taken since the current route was announced.

“Sheffield has always supported a city centre station and believe this is the only viable location that will realise the potential of HS2 to deliver the jobs, regeneration and connectivity that is essential for the future of our economy.

“We believe that going back to the Meadowhall proposal would be a bad option for investment, costing jobs. This is why so many partners across the city supported a city centre solution as the best option for Sheffield, as it will be in other cities such as Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.”