Rail campaign launched

A MAJOR campaign to improve train services for residents of the west Warrington area has been launched.
The campaign, organised by Warrington South Labour Party, aims to win better services for people from Whittle Hall, Great Sankey and Penketh.
It has three main aims:
1. To improve facilities and parking at Sankey Station, which is currently in a shocking state of neglect
2. To secure funding for the long-promised new “Warrington West” station at Chapelford, with good parking and also bus connections to Omega and other key areas of the town.
3. To introduce a Sunday train service to the west side of Warrington – it is unfair that places like Hough Green and Widnes have a Sunday train service but not the Sankey/Chapelford area.
To kick off the campaign, local Labour campaigners have highlighted the shocking state of Sankey station. Specific concerns that have been raised include craters and potholes on the car park, flooding of the car park in wet weather, poor lighting, mud, litter and weeds everywhere, inadequate waiting area on the eastbound platform and a lack of electronic displays or even a functioning PA system.
Labour controlled Great Sankey Parish Council has formally written to Northern Rail and Network Rail to demand a meeting and urgent improvements for the benefit of passengers.
In addition, Whittle Hall councillor Faisal Rashid has raised concerns with the borough council.
He received reassurance from the council leadership that the borough is fully committed to improving rail services and other transport links in the west of Warrington. Funding for the new station has been applied for.
Nick Bent, who fought Warrington South for Labour at the last General Election, commutes to work every day from Sankey station.
He said: “Labour is fighting for better train services and better passenger facilities here because it is vital to the prosperity of local families. People voted for Labour expecting tangible action for the local community and that’s what we will deliver.”
Pictured: Cllr Tony Williams, chairman of Great Sankey Parish Council, Cllr Dan Price, Cllr Hilary Cooksey and Nick Bent