GOVERNMENT proposals for HS2 – the high speed rail link between London and the North – have drawn a mixed reaction in Warrington.
While the borough council has issued a cautious response, Warrington North MP Helen Jones says it appears Warrington will suffer all the disruption the new line will cause without getting any of the benefits.
Warrington South MP David Mowat believes Warrington would benefit from a share of regional regeneration worth several billion £ across the North West.
Overall, locally, it seems everyone wants to study the proposals in more detail before making a final judgement.
But the fact that Warrington Bank Quay will not become a HS2 station has disappointed almost everyone – even though the government says journey times between Warrington and London will be cut by about half-an-hour.
The line will cut through the Culcheth area, running along the line of Culcheth Linear Park – which is a former railway – and through the Taylor Business Park.
Cllr Terry O’Neill (below), leader of the borough council, said the authority would be scrutinising the plans to establish what impact they would have on local communities and was opportunities may also exist.
He said: “The plans as they stand do not list Warrington as a HS2 station however the town stands to benefit from reduced journey times to London and the south.
“Manchester will have two HS2 stops, one in the city centre and the other at the airport which is positive for the 
region.
“Officers in our transport and policy teams will be studying these plans closely over the coming weeks and we will be engaging with stakeholders such as parish councils, partner agencies, residents, businesses and neighbouring authorities to formulate and submit our official representation to the government.”
The scheme will free up much needed capacity on the west coast mainline which the government envisages would encourage freight off roads and on to rail instead.
Helen Jones said: “I am very disappointed that Warrington Bank Quay will not become a HS2 station.
“It seems that some residents of Warrington will suffer the disruption of the new line without actually benefiting from the new link.
“As a result, I will be scrutinising these proposals very carefully.”
She is also seeking a meeting with borough council chief executive Steven Broomhead to discuss the implications for Warrington as a whole.
Culcheth councillor Chris Vobe said: “I am very concerned about the impact these proposals will have on residents in Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft.
“I understand that, at the moment, these plans are only in draft form. I will be working diligently with Helen Jones and Warrington Borough Council, to try and ensure the impact on residents in my ward is lessened.
“My community will be following the progress of this project very closely, to see whether the Coalition government listens to our concerns.”
David Mowat said: “Warrington will benefit from regional regeneration estimated to be worth several billion to the North West, but also because trains will run from Bank Quay to London over 20 minutes faster than at present – with further reductions when the project is completed. A station at Manchester Airport will be 59 minutes from Central London.
“The benefits of HS2 are stronger than those for Crossrail and there is a real danger that, if this project collapses, the money will be spent on yet another project to benefit commuters in London and the South East.
“Warrington will benefit from HS2, as will the whole of the North West and so we cannot allow the project to be derailed by nimbys in London and the Home Counties.”
Cllr Paul Campbell, Conservative spokesman for Warrington North said “Whilst these are long term plans which will take many years to come to fruition and a substantial consultation process will take place, people in Culcheth will understandably be concerned and keen to know how the proposed construction and operation will affect them.
“It is vitally important that we establish that any adverse effects such as the loss of some of the Culcheth Linear Park or impact on housing and land will be properly compensated’
“I am calling for the planners to come to Culcheth as soon as possible to present plans to residents, explain the consultation process and answer questions from concerned residents. The sooner the better, as people need to know how these important changes will affect us and it is better to get detailed accurate information rather than fall into a period of speculation.”
Pictured: Bank Quay will not be HS2 station.
13 Comments
It is disgraceful that Culcheth Linear Park could be destroyed by this plan.
My first thought was “oh good, I’ll be able to get to London quicker”. Unfortuntately that will be the first thought of most north based business people. Experience has shown in other countries that it sucks more business down to the capital, not distributes it to the provinces.
In addition , looking at its route through Warrington, it will cut through whole swathes of greenbelt. The people of Warrington have spent a long time protecting our countryside. The new trainline will industrialise the landscape and make it more difficult to object against new planning proposals.
Culcheth LInear Park will be crossed by the line rather than destroyed by it. There will be one less bit for the dogs to dump on.
If there is to be no stop in the Warrington area how on earth is it going to be of any benefit to us? Culcheth Linear Park may not be destroyed but it will no longer be a quiet haven to those who wish to enjoy a bit of traffic free countryside. As for dogs, the less places for people to exercise their dogs the more problems they are likely to cause to non dog lovers.
I choose to live in a quiet place like Culcheth to get away from city life; that was my choice/ Now that choice is being taken awa y from me and I have no control over it.
I am appalled at the sheer waste of money of this scheme in a time of recession. The current rail system could be vastly improved bringing benefit to a far larger number of people without the heartache and disruption to communities that this will cause.
Crossing it with a strip the width of a pair of rail-lines complete with the amount of fenced off land each side is tantamount to destroying it – it’s not just dogs who will be doing the dumping on.
I am dissapointed with EAGLE response over DOGS. I think he’s missed the point should he live in Culcheth, and I doubt that. The issue is HS2 and not DOGS.
What a horrendous waste of money! Build stations in the middle of nowhere and don’t bother linking up towns with some economic vibrancy. £36bn? When this shocking Government tells us about austerity and pushes its case for cuts, just remember the waste with pointless schemes like this, which will do nothing for British industry and just end up lining the pockets of overseas business. Still, their chums in the city should be mighty pleased with this – another chance to fleece the public purely for their own interests!
It is regrettable David Mowat has to resort House of Commons emotive name calling when dismissing objectors to a scheme he has backed from the outset but which the Public Accounts Committee has called in to question.
Mr Foster, would you like a site of your own? The bit of the Linear Park that the HS2 will be a lot healthier than the crap infested rest of it.
How does David Mowatt work out that journey times from Warrington BQ to London will be reduced by 20 minutes by building this new line? The current trains are now operating pretty well at maximum speed and only just a tad under the legal speed limit. The manufacturers reckon they could modify them to get get to 137MPH but that wouldn’t reduce it by more than 10minutes. This could be done anytime without spending 36 billion + an unknown (but apparently generous) amount of compensation.
I agree with Nick and we can all blame the Labour Party who started the High Speed Railway Project.
It’s great to hear that we will be able to get to London so quickly but that also means that London will be able to get to us quickly to use our airport which will be cheaper than building a third runway at Heathrow. Next we will hear that Manchester is getting a new runway to cope with the extra air traffic. Is HS2 such good news now?
Actually Mr Mowat, the time won’t be reduced by 20 minutes post HS2 as it will take zero time from Warrington to London direct.
As part of the 7.7 billion pounds worth of cuts in public transport to pay for the HS2 project, there isn’t going to be a direct service anymore!