New Labour are promoting the proposed A5225, which is to run from the M6 motorway near Winstanley to the Atherleigh by-pass, on the pretext of reducing congestion on Wigan's roads. In reality the purpose of the proposed new road is to provide fat cat developers with easy access to sites ripe for exploitation. Far from reducing traffic into the borough this road would provide a dramatic increase in the amount of cars, vans and HGV traffic onto our doorsteps and result in increased levels of noise and air pollution. In spite of the fact that Wigan Council claim we are in a period of Public Consultation they are pushing full steam ahead with their plans and to date have failed to produce the requested traffic impact and environmental impact studies. Contrary to statements by some New Labour Politicians this proposed road has not been the subject of detailed public scrutiny and The Community Action Party calls for a full independent public inquiry to be initiated without delay. Community Action Party Councillor, Peter Franzen submitted a motion opposing the proposed Route A5225 at the Wigan Council meeting held on Wednesday 6th August 2003. All Labour Councillors present at the meeting voted against the motion. Please click on the link above to read the A5225 motion. A unique pressure group has been formed to fight plans for the controversial A5225 Wigan-to-Leigh link road. The non party-political Wigan Borough Action Group is the result of a successful public meeting at which an estimated 250 people turned up to express opposition to the scheme. Please click on the link above for further information.
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SWAMPED WITH TRAFFIC Bolton Council could be forced to build a controversial by-pass from Atherton through rural land to avoid Westhoughton town centre becoming swamped with traffic. Please click on the link above for further information. Bolton Council is under pressure to extend the A5225 link road for about two miles beyond Atherton to meet the M61 at Westhoughton, which faces becoming flooded with commuters if the road stops short of the motorway. The road, which has been at the planning stage since the 1970s, would take traffic from the M6 at Orrell to the M61 at Westhoughton. Although the plans for the road were abandoned by the local authority two years ago amid fears that extra housing development would be needed to fund the project, Wigan Council has pressed on with the proposal and hopes to start work on its £75 million section of the project -- from Orrell to Atherleigh Way in Atherton -- in 2005. But fears that thousands of cars will come through Westhoughton to complete the journey to the M61 have prompted Bolton Council to launch a feasibility study into completing the project. The road would be extended from Atherleigh Way along the western side of Atherton, following the route of Platt Lane, which would be straightened to cope with high-speed traffic. The road would then cross farmland to meet the Chequerbent roundabout. It is not clear how much the new road would cost but transport bosses have warned that extra development would be needed to pay for part of the scheme. Despite opposition to further development, which has hampered the progression of the scheme since it was conceived in the 1970s, Cllr Guy Harkin, Executive Member for Environment and Deputy Chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said attitudes to the road were beginning to change among residents who were worried that congestion could worsen if the A5225 stopped at the edge of the town. Cllr Harkin said: "It's a stark choice between development and more congestion and ultimately that choice will be down to the people of Westhoughton. "We agreed to do the study to look at the implications of the road and to see what would be the price of extending all the way to the M61. "More and more people that I talk to want to see some development if it will mean better traffic." Westhoughton Councillor David Wilkinson said the town would struggle to cope with any more traffic. "If this is forced upon us by Wigan then we will have to very carefully consider the implications," he said. "The road is currently due to stop in Atherton. "The extra traffic will use Leigh Road and Park Road or New Brook Road in Hulton Lane Ends. "We know that 18,000 cars a day already use Leigh Road and it's like a car park for much of the day. "There is maybe a change in public attitude about the fact that development and traffic is going to happen anyway and now people will be able to make their minds up about whether they want to see the road go ahead." |
