"We need to put up a united front to fight HS2"

CAMPAIGNERS whose homes could be bulldozed to make way for HS2 hope to club together and put up a “united front” against the proposals.

Residents in Bramley held a meeting last week and agreed to contact groups from across the area in the hope of creating a “louder voice”.

A petition set up by people in the village has already attracted more than 2,000 signatures but Hellaby ward councillor Jenny Andrews said they were now hoping to speak to people from other parts, such as Barnburgh, Mexborough and Aston, who would also be affected.

Cllr Andrews added: “If we can all come together and put up a united front it will give us a louder voice.”

She said people in Bramley were confident they would clock up the 10,000 signatures needed for the petition to receive a Government response.

The online petition was set up when the route was controversially changed from Meadowhall to Sheffield city centre.

If approved, the new route would run straight through the Broadlands estate in Bramley and people whose homes could be bulldozed held a protest march last month.

Cllr Andrews said: “Emotions are, understandably, running very high at the moment and the campaign has a lot of momentum.”

The petition - set up by Bramley resident John Haith - claims the new route will be “dangerously close to housing and other amenities”.

Meanwhile, campaigners in Barnburgh, Doncaster have set up a petition of their own.

Organiser Lynn Hall hopes hundreds of people will sign up to show their fury at the proposed route.

Harlington resident Lynn decided to set up the online petition after violence broke out at a public meeting in Barnburgh on August 1 after double the building’s capacity turned up. Organisers held a second meeting straight after the first one.

Lynn said: “We have got to do something. I just hope that all the people work together to say to the Government that we don’t want this.

“We need to say just reconsider the previous Meadowhall route or do we really need this at all?

“People are worried that it’s just going to happen and what we need to do is work together.”

To view the Bramley petition visit http://tinyurl.com/hs2bramley or to view the Barnburgh petition visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/163788.