'In the dark' mayor and council leader write to Rishi Sunak over 'massive ramifications' of axing HS2 to Manchester
manchestereveningnews.co.ukPolitical leaders have told the Prime Minister scrapping HS2 rail to Manchester would have 'massive ramifications' on the city region and the north west as a whole.
They say they're 'completely in the dark' over the future of high speed rail here - and have urged Rishi Sunak to agree to an urgent meeting before any firm decisions are made.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and councillor Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester city council, have written an open letter to the PM, warning any cancellation of HS2 to Manchester would 'effectively be cancelling Northern Powerhouse Rail in its current form too'. READ MORE: 'HS2 was designed to unite the North and the South' READ MORE: Boris Johnson slams Rishi Sunak over plans 'to scrap Birmingham to Manchester HS2 leg' And they say it's 'deeply disrespectful to our residents and businesses' that they weren't given a chance to offer their views before reports surfaced last week that the government aims to axe HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester, something it has refused to deny.
Mr Burnham and coun Craig say the north 'should not have to pay for the Government's mismanagement of the HS2 budget'. Urging Mr Sunak to meet with them, they also suggest prioritising the northern section of the line between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly so NPR, which would share HS2 lines, could be built first.
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