A county councillor representing rural communities affected by plans for a high speed train route through Lichfield has urged people to stick together in opposing the scheme.
The plea came from Cllr Matthew Ellis (Cons, Lichfield Rural East) after it emerged that a local campaign has been launched to move the route up to a kilometre to the east.
And although the move would appease many objectors, Cllr Ellis is urging residents to remain united and make sure the problem isn’t simply shunted into other communities.
He explained:
“The desire to get rid of this issue from your own back yard into a neighbour’s is understandable but it simply serves to widen the distress and potential blight being suffered. It also risks weakening the strength of southern Staffordshire villages and communities all the way down the route working closely together.
“Dozens of people have contacted me because well advanced plans they had to sell their homes or make significant life changes have come to an abrupt halt. It is difficult enough without one area turning on another and I hope that the collaboration across the area to date continues.”
The proposed route move to the east would mean greater impact on people in Whittington, Hopwas, Drayton Bassett, Bonehill and Mile Oak.
