Political figures in North West Leicestershire have joined forces to call on the Government to clarify plans for the HS2 route through the district.

A weekend report in the Mirror said that the east leg of the project is set to be axed to save £40billion.

The planned route would have cut through the Measham, Packington and Ashby areas, following the A42 road from Birmingham towards Nottingham and then on to Leeds.

But the Mirror report claims the cost of HS2 has risen from £32.7billion, when approved in 2012, to £107.7billion.

Treasury chiefs now say that halting the Eastern leg, due to open by 2033, will save £40billion.

North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen says the news is encouraging, but more certainty is needed.

He has long supported the reopening of the Ivanhoe Line between Burton and Leicester - linking Ashby and Coalville.

The MP also said last month that the uncertainty is affecting projects such as the £3million Measham Wharf Project.

A decision on whether the Eastern leg goes ahead in its current form is expected to be announced by the Government shortly.

Mr Bridgen tweeted: "It's promising to hear that this historic white elephant is due to be mothballed.

"But, in reality, it needs to be put out if its misery once and for all.

"The East Midlands needs certainty so our economy can continue to grow."

North West Leicestershire District Labour leader, Sean Sheahan, said alternative transport plans were needed.

Cllr Sheahan said: "The rumours about the eastern leg of HS2 have been circulating for weeks.

"But all of this just confirms what we have known for years: the business plan is hopelessly flawed.

"The Government needs to face up to this, abandon its plans and come forward with credible, alternative rail investment proposals."

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles echoed the concerns that no official announcement has been made about the possible abandonment of the scheme.

Commenting on the ongoing uncertainty regarding the future of the HS2 Eastern Leg, Mr Knowles said: "Fundamentally, nothing has officially changed regarding the future of the HS2 Eastern Leg since last year when the Government said it would set out its proposals in the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP).

"Yet it seems like every other weekend, we are reading reports in national media outlets in which anonymous Whitehall civil servants are sending out signals to diminish its chances of happening.

"With the IRP being kicked down the road continuously and not expected until the Autumn, it has left a void for constant speculation that is causing huge uncertainty at a time when we need to know the direction ahead for future regional economic planning.

"It's time for the Government to stop playing games with the future of our region, and those other areas that would stand to benefit significantly from HS2 East.

"While many of our perceptions have been adjusted during the pandemic, the huge economic benefits that HS2 can bring as part of the much-hyped levelling up agenda haven't changed.

"Much of the understanding around HS2 appears to be hopelessly flawed.

"It is much more than just a new railway, bringing growth in the form of business investment, house building, place regeneration, high-skilled job creation, innovation, green technologies and more to areas that have faced chronic underinvestment over a number of years.

"Indeed, we are already seeing these plans start to come to fruition across Birmingham, where the certainty of the first phase of HS2 has already spurred private sector investment and development.

"Without the development of HS2 as promised, these plans will be critically undermined, and any delivery that does happen will certainly not be of the magnitude aspired to."

Ashby-based business Field Sport UK says the prospect of the HS2 leg through this area is welcome - otherwise the business would fold.

Ashby business angry at Government over HS2 uncertainty

The company posted on social media: "Some positive news to start the week - HS2 has been halted for the time being!

"All of us here at FSUK are hoping that this is a permanent halting otherwise we lose the centre."