Rail link will be a 'shot in arm'

During the closing stages, the floor were asked if they had anything in particular to say on the subject.

I stood up and went on to tell the meeting that I felt Xanadu could only benefit the town of Leigh, its businesses and its people, least of all through the re-opening of Kenyon Junction as a viable railway station.

I also said that irrespective of Xanadu getting the go-ahead, the powers that be should promote the re-opening of Kenyon Junction to serve the people of Leigh and its surrounding areas.

Since that meeting two years ago, John Prescott, the deputy prime minister, has been urging car owners to use public transport in an effort to improve the environment by cutting exhaust emissions from our cars and avoiding traffic congestion.

Kenyon Station must've been what Mr Prescott had in mind when he thought up these plans.

Now, the environmentally friendly Chris Maille, the local Green Party representative wants Kenyon Junction plans scrapped in belief that you can't have Xanadu without the station and vice-versa.

I say again, irrespective of Xanadu, Leigh needs a railway station and Kenyon Junction is the best chance we've got.

A half mile extension of the by-pass at the junction with the East Lancs Road, along a line that already exists, is all it needs.

A shuttle service from the surroundings local areas, such as Leigh, Glazebury, Culcheth and Golborne would not only improve the travelling times for commuters to Liverpool and Manchester, but it would also give easy access to these areas for shopping and visiting.

It is a sad fact of life that Leigh is the largest connurbation in the country without a railway station and the re-introduction of Kenyon Junction can only be a shot in the arm for the area.

E Collier,

Upwood Road,

Lowton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.