Residents in the rural village of Whitmore Heath, Staffordshire, have been left 'numb' after the government scrapped the northern leg of HS2. The high-speed rail project had led to the compulsory purchase of 35 properties in the area, turning it into a ghost town.
HS2 bought the homes, including multi-million-pound mansions, as the train line was planned to pass underneath them. After residents moved out, the empty properties attracted squatters and the sense of community evaporated.
Edward Cavenagh-Mainwairing, 61, who was born in the village and is the 33rd generation of his family to live there, expressed his dismay. 'When you walk around the area, it's a bit sad to see it all locked up. There was a sense of community, but now there isn't,' he told the Manchester Evening News. 'Hearing the news about it being scrapped made me feel numb. It's still not a victory because it's confirmation that it was a really bad decision.'
However, some residents see a silver lining. Chris Shemilt, 65, who is in the process of moving out, believes people will return. 'I don't see anything wrong with it myself. I think people will move back to the area,' he said, adding that the government 'bribed' homeowners to sell. He argued that the costs of HS2 were prohibitive and suggested improving the existing line to Manchester instead.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the cancellation of the West Midlands to Manchester leg, citing the need for 'quicker and faster' transport alternatives. The decision has left affected residents grappling with the aftermath of a project that upended their lives.
