PLANS to ban heavy good vehicles from a busy road just outside Warrington’s boundaries could cause “traffic chaos” in the quiet village of Croft, according to MP Helen Jones.
She has joined forces with Croft councillor Chris Vobe and Culcheth and Glazebury councillor Matt Smith to oppose the proposals being considered by Wigan Borough Council.
The plan is to “de-prime” Winwick Lane, in Lowton where local residents have been complaining about HGVs using the road as a “cut through” to the East Lancashire Road after leaving the M6.
Winwick Lane runs through Croft before crossing the borough boundary into Lowton.
Cllr Chris Vobe
The Warrington North MP and the two councillors fear “de-priming” would mean heavy lorries would still leave the M6 at Junction 22 but instead of using Winwick Lane could divert through Croft village instead.
Cllr Vobe said: “Although we sympathise with the noise and the problems residents in Lowton have experienced due to the high volume of heavy good vehicles using Winwick Lane, it remains a primary route.
“If large vehicles are barred from using the lane, and the motorway is busy, they will clearly divert through Croft to access the East Lancs.
“This has the potential to cause traffic chaos in our village. Many of the roads the HGVs would use are narrow and do not have pavements – they are totally unsuitable for this type of traffic. Our highway infrastructure cannot cope with an increase of this type of traffic through our village, and the disruption to residents’ lives and amenities will be devastating.”
Cllr Vobe said he would work with villagers to oppose the proposals.
Ms Jones said: “The ‘de-priming’ of Winwick Lane will cause more problems than it solves.
“We do not want to see large numbers of HGVs being re-routed through Croft. Shifting the problem is not an acceptable solution and I am not
prepared to support any scheme which detrimentally affects residents of Warrington North.”
The MP is urging Warrington Borough Council to oppose Wigan’s proposals.
