The Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Craig Browne, said reports that the entire HS2 project may be delayed five years "have not been confirmed".

And he says he would have liked to have seen the northern section of the project started FIRST - Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham, rather than the other way round.

Councillor Craig Browne, also and Chair of the Highways and Transport committee, said Cheshire East Council had NOT received any indication that Phase 2B of the project from Crewe to Manchester could be delayed.

"If this is about the levelling up of the North, the project should have started at Manchester Piccadilly and then worked down to the south not the other way round," said Cllr Browne. 

Councillor Craig Browne

according to the Sun, as reported by Sandbach Nub News https://sandbach.nub.news/news/local-news/sandbach-hs2-may-not-reach-central-london-and-could-be-delayed-by-five-years-168664 HS2 may not reach central London until 2038, with the entire project also potentially delayed by five years.

The national title has reported that the £60 billion rail line may not reach its Euston terminus for another 15 years due to rising inflation and construction costs

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But Cllr Browne said Cheshire East Council had NOT received any indications of this happening.

"The Government has already committed a lot of money to Phase 2A of the project, London to Crewe," said Cllr Browne.

"Phase 2B, from Crewe to Manchester is set to go through a Select Committee.

"This committee has been formed but it hasn't met yet."

Councillor Laura Crane, vice-chair of the Highways and Transport Committee and councillor for Sandbach Ettiley Heath and Wheelock said: "The council haven't had any formal notification of this so I am taking it with a pinch of salt at present.

"If true, it's a huge disappointment to the area as HS2 promises to bring improvements to our local public transport network and the investment brings with it good quality jobs for our residents.

"I dearly hope this is purely rumour-mongering."

The paper said bosses were considering scrapping the link to central London completely, with trains instead terminating at a new hub at Old Oak Common - five miles away.

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Commuters would then need to use the Elizabeth Line or Tube for the last leg of the journey.

The Sun also said the whole project could be delayed by two to five years.

The government has not denied the report.

A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said the government remained committed to "delivering HS2 to Manchester, as confirmed in the Autumn Statement.

"As well as supporting tens of thousands of jobs, the project will connect regions across the UK, improve capacity on our railways and provide a greener option of travel."