A proposed HS2 spur linking the railway with the West Coast Main Line could cut straight across Wigshaw Lane, the much-used road connecting Culcheth and Croft near Warrington. Warrington Council is calling for a bridge to keep the route open, which seems a fairly reasonable request when a railway project threatens to slice through a community's everyday connections.
Council leader Terry O'Neill described Wigshaw Lane as a “vital route” and warned that closing it would create substantial diversions. In a letter to the transport secretary, he said around 500 vehicles used the lane every hour during busy periods, alongside cyclists and pedestrians.
Mr O'Neill said the current proposals would force people to take significant detours for ordinary journeys, adding considerably to many thousands of car trips. In other words, a simple hop between neighbouring villages risks becoming an unnecessarily long tour of the Warrington road network, with congestion presumably included at no extra charge.
Warrington Council has urged the government to ensure Wigshaw Lane is not closed and that a bridge is provided over the HS2 route. For residents, that is not just a matter of convenience. People in Croft rely on Culcheth for many amenities, so severing the direct link would affect shopping, services, school journeys and local travel generally.
Croft resident Siobhan Carr said villagers used Culcheth for most amenities and warned that a five-minute drive could become 20 minutes, or longer once congestion was added. That concern is entirely understandable, especially when the proposed replacement route appears to turn a local connection into a daily endurance test.
There is also a positive side to HS2. Tobias Oxley, a 19-year-old Culcheth resident, described it as “a great idea” that could provide plenty of employment opportunities for young people. That is a fair point: major infrastructure can bring jobs and investment, and the railway itself may offer long-term benefits.
But grand national transport plans still need to work for the people living beside them. HS2 representatives said they recognised concerns about Wigshaw Lane and were looking at alternatives. They encouraged people to contribute to the public consultation so the railway could be designed and built as effectively as possible.
That sounds promising, although residents will understandably want more than carefully polished reassurance. If HS2 is going ahead, keeping the vital Culcheth-Croft connection open should be treated as basic planning rather than an extravagant village luxury.