Doncaster mayor asks for clarity over HS2 and repeats calls for Meadowhall station

The mayor said she was ‘pleased and concerned’ around the announcement that HS2 would be built following an independent report into the project which has gone massively over budget.

But Government officials said there would be a ‘further review’ on cost cutting measures relating to Phase 2B which runs from Birmingham, through South Yorkshire and onto Leeds.

The mayor called on the Government to provide ‘further clarity’ on the issue for affected residents.

Doncaster Council supports HS2 in principle but are against the current route and back a South Yorkshire station at Meadowhall - something which was initially planned by Government.

Mayor Ros Jones, said: “We have always supported the principle of HS2 but it is clear the current Phase 2B route is the wrong solution for South Yorkshire. It will have a devastating impact on our communities, tear up our landscape, limit our economic potential and cap the future growth of our rail services in our region.

"I am both pleased and concerned about this latest announcement. I am pleased it could give us the opportunity to revisit the planned route and go back to the Meadowhall route, which would be far more beneficial for Doncaster and mean fewer demolitions.

“My worry of a further review into Phase two is that the Shimmer Estate residents in Mexborough still face uncertainty as to if and when their properties will be demolished. I feel for these residents whose lives have been tormented by HS2 for years and are still no clearer on what lies ahead in the future.

“I also have concerns that the environmental mitigation may be cut in efforts to save money so I will be writing to the minister and the Prime Minister for clarity, inviting them to meet with me and residents of the Shimmer Estate who are still left in limbo.

“The clock is ticking and it will be decades before we see HS2 and much needed new rail schemes open.”