Tameside leader 'dismayed' by HS2 plan which would 'sever' Ashton tram line

Tameside council had 'no idea' that the new high speed rail link would 'sever' the Ashton tram line until a week before the plans were put to Parliament.

Council leader Brenda Warrington expressed her 'dismay' that developing the new HS2 line could see Metrolink services to Ashton suspended for two years.

The Labour councillor spoke of the potential economic disadvantage the borough would face and the 'significant negative impact' on its ambitions.

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The comments came as Greater Manchester's council leaders discussed a government consultation on plans for the HS2 line which would pass through Wigan, Trafford and Manchester and could affect services in Stockport.

Coun Warrington told those at a Greater Manchester Combined Authority meeting on Friday (February 11) that she is 'very strongly against' the plans.

She said: "I must on behalf of Tameside put on record, frankly, my dismay at the potential economic disadvantage that the severance of the Metrolink line would put us to.

"Whether it is for two years - it's more likely, I would say, a lot longer than that - it would have a significant negative impact on our ambitions for growth within Tameside.

"We seem to be in a position of having no real benefit of HS2, but all of the pain of HS2 and I see that as grossly unfair.

"We will definitely be petitioning against this bill."

The HS2 Hybrid Bill for Phase 2b between Crewe and Manchester was put before MPs on January 24 and is still going through the parliamentary process.

During the construction period, tram services on the Ashton-under-Lyne to Eccles route would be suspended while ‘Metrolink realignment works’ are carried