MY attention has been drawn to the views expressed by E. Collier (Journal Mailbox, July 15). It is a pity they were not made known in the affected area two years ago, as residents might then have had an opportunity to join in the argument sooner.

Leigh may not be a conurbation but anybody can understand the desirability of improved rail connections. Arguably Leigh deserves its own station in the town.

'Leigh Parkway' (for that is what it is being sold as), would in fact be in Warrington. It would be reached by an elevated road approximately five metres above the existing track bed, already an embankment, at the A580 (East Lancs Road) end. The implications of the road itself can be summed up thus: even if not the thin end of the wedge, in terms of more road building and housing development in open countryside, it would do a lot of harm to the thin wedge of Green Belt which separates Leigh/Lowton from Culcheth.

E.Collier may not realise that a lot of the open land along the East Lancs Road on the Lowton side, is not itself Green Belt. The example of the industrial estate at Golborne (Stone Cross Park) shows what can happen.

There is also persuasive evidence that the old railway has an established usage as a bridleway. We think that access for that purpose should be reinstated.

Finally, there is the car park, which many people think would function as a de facto overspill facility for Xanadu. Would the residents of Upwood Road, Lowton relish having an illuminated security compound containing up to 539 spaces in their back yard, displacing the advance of natural wilderness?

Sue Seddon

Chairman

Kenyon Residents' Group

Kenyon Lane

Culcheth

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