PLANS for a new railway station in Warrington – also including housing development on green belt land – are being kept from local people, according to MP Helen Jones.
The scheme is one of five being considered for a station in the Culcheth area – primarily designed to serve Leigh, which has no station.
Warrington people are not being consulted, the MP claims.
She said: “I am particularly concerned that one proposal – Kenyon Junction – might involve building housing on the green belt when, I understand, Warrington has 13 years supply of housing land available across the town.
“We need to have a proper discussion about these options, yet the details are being kept from local people.”
The Warrington North MP (right) has been concerned for some time about a study, commissioned by Wigan Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and Network Rail, which considers five options for a station in the Culcheth area.
These include a rail spur to a terminal station in the Pennington area. A second option is for the rail spur plus an additional station near Kenyon Junction on the Chat Moss line, using existing roads for access.
Further options include a station at Kenyon Junction with a road connection to the A580 at its junction with the A579.
The fourth option is for a station at Kenyon Junction with enhanced bus priority to Leigh, and the final option is for a station on the Chat Moss line in the Glazebury area.
Ms Jones said: “Yet again we see that these discussions are proceeding without proper consultation with people in Warrington.”
Previously Ms Jones has slammed Wigan Borough Council for not consulting Warrington people, accusing Wigan of treating Warrington with “contempt.”
Wigan wants a new station to serve the Leigh area. Some of the sites under consideration are in Warrington, including Kenyon Junction and Glazebury.
Ms Jones said there were serious issues about traffic congestion and the impact on the Green Belt as well as transport accessibility, to be considered.
Pressure group Transport for Leigh, which wants a station in the centre of Leigh – the largest town in England without its own station – opposes the plans.
It is expected that Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council would also object.
Secret plan for green belt homes
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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More claims of “secret” plans from labout – as I recall the Peel Hall claims ended up with two of her coumcillors being dragged to court and forced to apologise for “misleading ” commenrts
If she’s been concerned for some time, why hasn’t she do something about it instead of trumpeting her own inaction on this site.
Is it not her job to make representations on our behalf ? or is she hoping by highlighting it here that someone else will do it for her ?
I rather like the comment,”It is expected that Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council would also object.” She definitely hasn’t a clue what people in the north end of her constituency want, rather surprising given that she lives there, a campaign to re-open Glazebury Station has been around for ages.