ALARM bells rang today at the prospect of a new railway station being built on a “green” site on the fringe of Warrington.
The development, if it went ahead, would involve re-building the old Kenyon Junction station near Culcheth.
But it would almost certainly be opposed by Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council and has already angered an action group campaigning for a new station at Leigh – one of the 
largest towns in the UK without a rail connection.
Community transport group Transport for Leigh warned the development could open the door for a new “Parkside-style” freight terminal on Culcheth’s doorstep.
News of the proposal followed a meeting between Leigh MP Andy Burnham (upper picture, right) with Secretary of State for Transport Phillip Hammond.
Afterwards Mr Burnham said: “We discussed two separate options for linking Leigh with Kenyon junction as well as a less likely link from Glazebury.”
A spokesman for Transport for Leigh said one plan under consideration would involve extending the Atherleigh by-pass to allow people to drive to Kenyon.
“Our concern about this proposal is that once this road from Leigh to Kenyon is built it will lead the further residential and commercial development in the surrounding area across green and farm land.
“It would be pointless building a road at significant cost only to take people from Leigh to a station at Kenyon.”
A second option being considered is using the existing road network in and around Kenyon.
The spokesman said: “Anyone who has driven on the East Lancs Road in the morning or evening rush-hour knows how busy it is. The idea of generating more traffic, cars and freight, and adding to that congestion seems madness.”
Transport for Leigh is firmly committed to another proposal for a $52 million passenger-only station just outside Leigh town centre.
“A local station for Leigh delivers real benefits. It would be dreadful if all the efforts local people made to block ‘Parkside’ were in vain should a similar development be built on the back of a station at Kenyon, supposedly serving the people of Leigh.
“It is quite clear from our research that a station at Kenyon isn’t wanted by the people of Leigh. It has no advantage over car journey times to existing stations such as Daisy Hill, Glazebrook, Atherton and Birchwood.”
Culcheth councillor Keith Bland (lower picture) said: “We haven’t been consulted about this plan and would almost certainly be opposed to it.”
Kenyon Junction station closed in 1963 and nothing remains of it.
Alarm over railway station plan
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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.
5 Comments
The foot print of the station is still there and undeveloped. I think this is panicking. A park & ride site there would benefit both Culceth & Leigh and I cannot see any plans for the alleged “parkside” or other developments. Scarmongering at its best.
Why on earth are people complaining about having a station? I simply can see no evidence for the fears – indeed what fears? Leigh )and Culcheth) residents pay their taxes to support the rail network yet have no real “payback.” It seems a moral issue (as well as a practical one): Leigh and Culcheth deserve to have what they pay for. I cannot see what harm it would do – and at least give people the choice of car or train. I really am perplexed. This must be one of the few areas of the country where people are not only not campaigning for a rail station but are actively against it.
I think the HS2 Meeting at Leigh Sports Village on the 22nd of November will answer a lot of questions lets all turn up and ask the questions we need answers too all the best. Lowton to the south of France in a day and many nearer places
The advantages of a new Kenyon railway station would allow people to get work at so many places,Liverpool, Manchester,Wigan, Warrington, New Electric trains to Wigan Preston and North to Scotland, Pick up a train at Warrington to London (time 1.75 Hours Journey) far superior to all the old Diesel Lines to Manchester, North Wales direct service. Manchester Airport service and many other Airport Services could go on for ages
South of France in a day, Paris for shopping all in a few hours away from Kenyon, must finnish for now Bill Peake, Cherry Tree Road, Lowton
Its very true what you have said, hope more people will pluck up courage to support a new Railway station to service Croft, Culcheth, Winwick, Leigh, Lowton and Glazbury. Park and ride Station at Wilton Lane, hears hoping T W Peake