LOCAL Liberal Democrats are calling for more to be done to promote Warrington as a major economic centre.
In a motion to a recent Council meeting, they expressed concern that the decision to scrap the northern part of HS2 would mean the town was bypassed.
Group Leader Cllr Bob Barr said, “The original prospectus for Northern Powerhouse Rail promised that ‘Together, Northern Powerhouse Rail, HS2 and the Trans Pennine Route Upgrade will define the North’s economic future for the rest of the century boosting jobs and growth.’ This designated Warrington as a ‘Major Economic Centre’ but the cancellation of HS2 puts this prospect at risk as the Warrington / Manchester Airport / Manchester connection was largely dependent on HS2 Track.
“In the government’s new ‘Network North’ document, Warrington is barely mentioned apart from being at the end of a North Wales line. The future of the Manchester / Liverpool connection is left in some doubt. The document states that ‘We will also invest £12 billion to better connect Manchester to Liverpool. This would allow the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail as previously planned, including high-speed lines. But we will work with local leaders to agree whether they wish to suggest other ways to achieve the objectives within that cost envelope.’
“There is a danger that ‘local leaders’ will be the elected metro mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool Region. They will have little interest in preserving Warrington as a ‘Major Economic Centre’. There is also a danger that the major advantage of Warrington being the crossing point of the West Coast Main line and the new improved East / West cross-country line, will be lost.”
Cllr Mark Browne who seconded the motion added, “We are asking for an urgent report outlining a strategy to retain Warrington as a ‘Major Economic Centre’ in the North-West. The report should update a previous study entitled “Warrington Means Business”, much of which has been superseded by recent developments. It should also state what steps will be taken to ensure that Northern Powerhouse Rail retains Bank Quay as a key station, or proposes an equally advantageous route through Warrington.
“Since putting this motion forward, we have learnt that the Minister of State for Rail has visited the town and had positive discussions with the MP, local councillors and officers. This is welcomed and is a step in the right direction that hopefully will ensure there is investment to upgrade the station and boost growth and jobs in our town.”
Rail Minister sees first-hand Bank Quay expansion opportunities
2 Comments
HS2 as originally proposed was ill conceived, has “robbed” the national rail network of vital funding and delayed its necessary upgrading. A more realistic option for the NW’s including Warrington, would have been to establish and future proof more robust WCML together with creating, upgrading and electrifying the proposed Northern Powerhouse route. Which is where work should have started at the outset, not working from London northwards.
Stop blaming the Government on Warringtons demise.
It is WBC and their Labour Party attitudes which was supported by the Liberal Democrats .