Mid Cheshire Against HS2 did not disband despite the HS2 cancellation in October 2023.
Residents who celebrated then prime minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of an end to “this long running saga” found their joy to be short lived.
Furious metro mayors for Greater Manchester and West Midlands announced plans to look at a cheaper version – dubbed HS2 Lite – using the same route.
They argued a new railway line was essential for “levelling up” the economy.
Mr Delow and Ms Flannery said this had come as a “bolt from the blue”.
“We all agreed we will not risk disbanding until ‘safeguarding’ is lifted, said Ms Flannery. “We must have had a sixth sense about it.”
In areas where land and properties are safeguarded by the government, there is a scheme known as Statutory Blight.
Under this, landowners can ask the transport secretary to purchase properties needed for the construction of new railway lines.
Mr Edge said he was grateful for this policy, saying it “gives everyone the chance to get on with their lives.”
He said this was “probably what we shall have to do”.
As things stand, land previously safeguarded for HS2 still has not been released.
