'HS2 works could lead to four years of disruption to UK's motorway network'

Jenny Shimwell, of the Stop HS2 Aston campaign group, said she had seen plans which showed that four viaducts would have to built in South Yorkshire - one in Wales, one over the A57 Aston Bypass, one over the M1 motorway and one over the M18 motorway.

She said she had carried out research into the infrastructure of the project, which is due to plough through the village following a re-think of the route to a Sheffield city centre option.

Ms Shimwell, 70, said: "What I have been looking at is all of the information about what's going to happen to this area and I've pulled them all together and looked at the viaducts that will have to be built.

"People think that if they don't live in the villages that it's planned to go through then it's not going to affect them or that it's going to be years away but both things are wrong because they have to build infrastructure.

"It's going to happen sooner rather than later and we are going to have Aston carved up like a pizza."

Under current proposals, the line would come into the village on a viaduct near Aston Bypass and cross through Aston Hall Cricket Club, Parklands Equestrian Centre and across Worksop Road.

Ms Shimwell said: "When I first saw the plans my first thought was that they would be running straight through commuter routes. The A57 Bypass is a major route into Sheffield and Rotherham and then there is the M1, M18 and A1(M).

"I am trying to make enquiries about how long the works would take but if they do the works all at the same time, we have got four years of disruption to one of the main motorway hubs in the country.

"To cause four years of disruption on major commuter links doesn't make any economic sense whatsoever. There are a lot of distribution centres around the area to who will also be affected.

"The cost to the economy of the country, not just South Yorkshire is going to be massive and nobody is going to be able to disrupt it because of the amount of disruption it will cause."

HS2 refused The Star's request for an interview and refused to provide a named spokesman.

It said keeping traffic moving on the motorway network was a 'priority' and it was already working with Highways England and councils to develop traffic management plans.

It added it would be publishing more detailed plans and designs later this year, which the public would be invited to leave their comments on.