Protest campaign welcomes support of MP Sarah

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion has pledged to fight the HS2 line through Rotherham and the Dearne Valley alongside Kevin Barron, who represents Rother Valley, and John Healey, the Wentworth and Dearne MP.

Former Labour leader and Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband has also spoken out against the proposed HS2 route through Aston, Bramley, Mexborough and the Dearne Valley.

Until now, Ms Champion has not been vocal about the proposed route which was announced in July after an alternative option through Meadowhall was dropped.

Mr Miliband has attended public meetings on the issue in the Dearne Valley, and Mr Barron took part in the Bramley protest march in October.

Both have met Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to argue against the route.

Mr Grayling is expected to announce whether the so-called M18 eastern option will go through to full consultation later this month.

There has been a big protest campaign across the area — and across other parts of Yorkshire — against the proposed HS2 scheme which will cut through housing estates and countryside.

Sandra Haith, secretary of the Stop HS2 Bramley campaign, said that she had tried to contact Ms Champion since July but had not received any “real response” from her until she met her at a constituency event and asked her for her views on the line.

Mrs Haith said: “I suppose she felt it did not fall into her constituency but our opinion was that because HS2 affects the whole area so she should be on-side.

“I went to see her and asked her views. She said she did support HS2 but did not support the new route.”

Mrs Haith said Ms Champion told her she wanted HS2 to look at another route “because she was unhappy with the demolitions” on the proposed line.

Mrs Haith said she welcomed Ms Champion’s confirmation that she supported the campaign.

She said: “My main thing is that we can stand up and say she is against the new route which is what we needed her to say.

“This means that we now have all three Rotherham MPs on our side.”

Ms Champion said she backed HS2 but was unhappy with the proposal on the table now.

She said: “Whilst I support the HS2 project, I do not believe the proposed route change that would see HS2 stopping in Sheffield via a spur line is the right option for Rotherham or for South Yorkshire.

“The new route would significantly reduce the connectivity HS2 could provide and  sharply limit the economic benefits to South Yorkshire.

“The currently proposed route may benefit Sheffield, but South Yorkshire as a whole would be better served by the originally proposed Meadowhall station, which would deliver better journey times for Rotherham.

“This route would also provide better connections to West Yorkshire and the North East.

“I also find the supposed cost savings of the new route to be highly questionable.

“I will be working with South Yorkshire colleagues to seek to ensure that South Yorkshire achieves the maximum benefit from HS2 and that its impact upon neighbourhoods is kept to a minimum.”