HS2: Rage and relief over scrapped northern leg

A 1.5 mile (2.5km) tunnel is being built just outside Chipping Warden in Northamptonshire for HS2's London to Birmingham stretch

People living along the route of the planned HS2 rail line from Birmingham to Manchester have reacted with anger and relief after it was scrapped. Some say construction work has decimated their area, but those who the line was yet to reach have delighted that their beloved countryside will stay intact. When a significant part of the largest infrastructure project in Europe suddenly stops, where does that leave communities?

Addressing his party conference on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak said the facts about HS2 had "changed", as he confirmed the northern leg, between Birmingham and Manchester, as well as the eastern leg to East Midlands Parkway, would no longer go ahead due to huge costs and delays.

He said the project was born of a "false consensus" that linking big cities was "all that matters", and that he would instead invest in transport projects across the North of England.

'We're delighted we don't have to deal with HS2'

Ben Fitzherbert said the decision over HS2 had meant Swynnerton Estates would remain "sacrosanct."

Swynnerton Estates in Staffordshire is a historic countryside estate which, with the exception of councils, was the largest chunk of land in the country affected by HS2's planned route between Birmingham and Crewe.

It includes a variety of businesses but agriculture accounts for the majority of the land's use - and HS2 had put the viability of some farms in doubt.

Residents there praised the decision to cancel the northern leg. "We're delighted we don't have to deal with HS2," said estate manager Ben Fitzherbert.

The estate dates back to the 11th Century, when the Stafford family were granted the land by William the Conqueror.

Mr Fitzherbert said the announcement meant they could continue to look after the estate, which would remain "sacrosanct."

"And then from a business perspective, [it gets rid of] this uncertainty that has been hanging over us for a very, very long time," he explained.

"We can now crack on and plan and do things."

'Our village has been absolutely decimated'

Judith Cleaver of Water Orton said the village has been "decimated" by HS2

Judith Cleaver moved to Water Orton for peace and quiet but said she felt the Warwickshire village was now encapsulated by work for HS2.

The first phase of the line, from London to Birmingham, crosses the M6 and M42 in the north of the county, towards what is known as the "Delta Junction" near Water Orton.

Two viaducts are being built nearby to carry the trains over the River Tame.

The government never should have started the project if it was not going to be completed, Ms Cleaver said.

Construction was still underway on Tuesday on the Coleshill Box Structure which will carry the HS2 line over the M42

She said her asthma had been affected by poor air quality from the construction works.

"Our village has been absolutely decimated, totally," said Ms Cleaver.

"The whole of Water Orton is a tip, it is disgusting, the roads are a mess, the air pollution is awful - it is an absolute tip."

HS2 'a blatant waste of money'

Sally Tyson said she was glad the scheme had been dropped, having faced land being taken from her family to help create the rail link

Residents of Woore in Shropshire, which was earmarked as a construction route for the northern leg, have said they are relieved the project has been scrapped.

The village had faced an increase in traffic while Phase 2a, to link Birmingham to Manchester, was realised.

Sally Tyson, whose family's land was to be used, said the project had been "a blatant waste of money and they've not even put a rail on the ground yet".

However, Peter Roberts - chair of trustees of Victory Hall in the village - said sentiments were mixed, arguing that some people may have wanted the rail link to happen as applications for government funding could have upgraded the hall.

"So on the village hall point of view we say 'boo'," he said, "but on a personal note, one may say 'hooray' - so it's a difficult one."

'Our property's gone to rack and ruin'

Rachel Halvorsen, pictured in 2014 at the farm she had to leave

Rachel Halvorsen used to run a farm and farm shop near Brackley in Northamptonshire, but had to give up that life "completely" and move out in 2016 to accommodate phase one of HS2.

Driving past her unrecognisable former home is "quite sad", she said. "[I've] shed a few tears."

"Our house is still standing in fact, but I gather the ceiling's fallen in and it hasn't ever been rented out. We feel that they've missed a trick there, letting our property go to rack and ruin."

'I worry that this isn't the end'

Ben Wilkes from the Border Collie Trust has spent thousands on adjacent land

The trustee of a dog rescue centre in Staffordshire that would have been severely affected by HS2 said he was "delighted" the project has been scrapped - but isn't celebrating just yet.

HS2 was due to cut through land belonging to the Border Collie Trust, and Mr Wilkes said he had spent £187,000 on adjacent land to secure its future - land they don't "necessarily need now".

He said while his land had not been compulsorily purchased prior to the prime minister's announcement, indications were that money would change hands early next year.

Compulsory purchase is a legal procedure where the government or local authority can force a property owner to sell up, normally for a project such as a new road or railway line.

"I'm not celebrating just yet," Mr Wilkes added, "because although it's been cancelled what's to stop someone coming along in twelve months' time to say 'we've got an idea'?"

"There are going to be hundreds of people along the line in a similar situation to us who were expecting to be compulsory-purchased, there's going to be so much to sort out and so much money lost."