Ashby Civic Society says the revised plans for HS2 still mean it is bad news for the town.

Last week, the Government announced that the scheduled Birmingham to Leeds link is to be cancelled.

A new High Speed line to East Midlands Parkway would still be going ahead.

In effect, the route would still cut through North West Leicestershire and come close to Ashby.

While it is not confirmed that the route will continue to follow the route of the A42, that was the original plan.

Now the Civic Society says it means the same knock-on effects on Ashby lie ahead.

Ken Ward, of Ashby Civic Society, said: "We have been told that the HS2, Leeds leg, has in effect been cancelled or certainly scaled back.

"This is so far from the truth.

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"For us in North West Leicestershire, and Ashby in particular, it is business as usual.

"We will still have the same line following the same route that was published three years ago.

"We will still have the most horrendous road closures for years and years.

"Each road to the East will be closed for at least 18 months at a time!

"And it will not be simultaneous - each road will be closed in sequence.

"This could mean 6 years of road closures.

"And all for no benefit to us!

"If we want to travel to London we'll have to drive to East Midlands Parkway and then travel back past Ashby to London,

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We will also have two rail lines in Ashby and no station.

"All in all - very bad news for our town.

"For us, HS2 is not cancelled or scaled back."

Ashby MP Andrew Bridgen said last week that the updated plans would be better for the district as a whole - but added the exact route needs to be clarified. You can read that article HERE.

North West Leicestershire District Council also backed the fresh plans but admitted there will be opposition locally. You can read that article HERE.