HS2 review welcomed by Rotherham leader and campaigners

Mr Shapps said a “go or no-go” decision on the project to connect London, the Midlands and northern England will be made by the end of the year.

The proposed HS2 route would cut through villages including Wales, Aston, Bramley and Firsby.

The review will examine the costs and benefits of HS2 and Mr Shapps refused to rule out scrapping it entirely.

Rotherham Council does not support its current route and leader Cllr Chris Read welcomed the review.

Cllr Read said: “If ministers would like to speak to residents in Bramley, Aston, Wales or beyond they will hear loud and clear that the M18 route would only bring years of inconvenience, no local benefits, and at a huge cost.”

He added: “We already know that the Government has downgraded the proposal through South Yorkshire, thinking they can make savings by giving us a second class service.

“Now they have the opportunity to reconsider; either join us up to the network properly by moving the proposal back to Meadowhall, or save us all the trouble and the huge bill by cancelling the phase 2b leg altogether.”

Grant Moremont, of Hooton Roberts and Firsby HS2 Action Group, said: “We have been hoping for a review of the project for a good three or four years now and if it’s undertaken properly, going through all the information as they should, they will realise there’s no appetite for HS2 anymore.”

The review will be chaired by Douglas Oakervee, a civil engineer and former chairman of HS2 Ltd.