Communities unite against Western Link bypass

COMMUNITIES across West Warrington are uniting to oppose any plans for a Western Link bypass road.

Great Sankey councillor Amanda King has lent her support to community groups from across West Warrington opposed to the “Western Link” bypass road, who have now joined forces to make their views heard.

She says the combined view of local residents groups is a unanimous rejection of any of the current six suggested options for the Warrington West Link.

Cllr King recently met with the Chairs of each of the groups to hear their objections and offer her support.

She said: “I am in agreement with local residents that none of the six options presented are viable, and none will deliver the enhancement that our local community needs. There is no question that congestion throughout Warrington is a problem, but I do not believe that any of these designs will rescue us from that situation.

“I am very concerned that four of the routes exit near to St. Gregory’s Catholic High School and the Peace Centre, effectively changing the current junction into a “super roundabout”, posing a high risk to pupils and local residents. There has been no data presented to analyse possible health risks in relation to air quality, or adequate traffic information in support of any of the designs. This puts us at a huge disadvantage when it comes to considering the short and long term implications of any of these roads.

“The current designs would isolate West Warrington from the rest of the town, whether by a bridge, a flyover or a massive highways development. I am also not prepared to support designs which force compulsory purchase orders onto local residents and affect local parks, schools and community facilities in the way the current proposals do. As it stands, these plans would cause more problems than they would solve.”

Cllr King is encouraging local residents who have views on the proposals to join the newly-united community group and make their views known to the Council. Both she and local MP Faisal Rashid have met with residents to help present their concerns to the Council’s consultation team.

She concluded: “It shouldn’t be the case that residents have to choose one of the six options, they should have the right to reject them all. The project needs a re-think and we need to look at alternatives which actually meet the objectives they set out to achieve.”

Interested residents can join the Facebook group “Communities United Against the Warrington Western Link”.

Great Sankey South residents with views on the plans are also encouraged to get in touch with Cllr King at [email protected]

Banners are currently been placed around the area showing opposition to all six colour coded routes.

Meanwhile all residents affected, or concerned, by the proposed Warrington Western Link Road are invited to a meeting organized by “Communities United against the Warrington Western Link” at St Joseph’s Parish Centre Meeting Lane Penketh at 7.30pm on Wednesday 30th August.

The major fear is that the proposed new road will not alleviate traffic congestion in and around Warrington town centre but add to congestion in, all ready busy, residential areas having opened up land for further housing development thereby increasing the amount of traffic in the area. There are also fears the Warrington Western Link Road would be used as an alternative to crossing of the River Mersey avoiding nearby toll bridges.

Amongst many other concerns, residents have raised worries that whichever route is chosen residential and business properties will have to be demolished and green recreational areas such as Morley Common, Marina Park and parts of Sankey Valley Park will be lost.

The proposals can be seen here CLICK HERE