CAMPAIGNERS are urging residents to respond to the “new” HS2 Design Refinement Consultation which could strengthen the argument to cancel the controversial Golborne Link.
The consultation deadline is fast approaching on December 11 and Frank Allen Chair of CADRAG (Culcheth and District Rail Action Group) is appealing to residents to make their views known.
The “new” consultation involves changes to HS2 at Crewe, Manchester Airport, Manchester Piccadilly, and in Scotland and residents near the HS2 route should have had leaflets on this in October.
Mr Allen said: “This is separate from the recently-announced changes to the route (including a bridge for Wigshaw Lane) and safeguarding areas in our villages, which can be found by searching for 2020 version of the Risley to Bamfurlong Mapbook MA05 ( also Broomedge to Glazebrook Mapbook MA04). It is important that those near the route check out the other changes including safeguard areas and compounds as shown in MA05 and MA04. Hopefully the library will re-open in December, a copy of these documents will be in there as well as online.
“The change at Crewe, which adds new connections between HS2 and the West Coast Main Line there, strengthens the argument to cancel the HS2 Golborne Link (Golborne Spur).
“The Golborne Link is a proposed HS2 line to link the HS2 near Lymm to the existing West Coast Main Line North of Golborne. It will pass close to Culcheth, on the village side of the Risley landfill site, then west, close to Glaziers Lane, affecting the Linear Park before crossing the Chat Moss railway line then going under a new Wilton Lane overbridge and under the A580.
“This will affect local jobs, amenities and the environment. It will also affect anyone travelling to the East of our area,” added Mr Allen.
CADRAG (Culcheth and District Rail Action Group) has long argued that the Golborne Link is very expensive (widely expected to cost over £3bn), will damage the community, jobs, and the environment, and that using the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Golborne instead would offer greater benefits, much less damage to communities, and much better value for money.
Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council work with CADRAG to oppose the Golborne link because of the damage it will do to homes, businesses, environment and traffic.
Mr Allen added: “We are told we will benefit from a 20 minute saving in our journeys to London but it is not clear what is happening to our journeys North from Bank Quay if the Golborne Link remains. Will we have to change trains at Preston?
“If you do not agree with the proposals to build the Golborne Link, it would be really useful if you could respond to the Consultation pointing out that it is no longer required because of the proposed changes at Crewe.”
You can respond online at https://ipsos.uk/designrefinement2b (there is a link from the .gov webpage) or by email to [email protected] .
“There are several questions asked in the Consultation. Please answer Question 1a which is about the connections at Crewe,” added Mr Allen.
Please make your own comments on the Golborne Link. If you respond by email, please include your name and address and copy your email to your MP (for Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft the address [email protected]
