A ROADSHOW giving residents a chance to review plans for the proposed high speed rail link will land in Leigh this month.

The event is a chance for people to understand more about the implications for the area and speak directly with HS2 Ltd staff.

The route will broadly follow the dismantled railway corridor south and west of Culcheth before rising to cross the Liverpool to Manchester railway line on a bridge.

It would then pass under the A580, through the gap between Lowton and Lowton Common and bear west, running to the north of Golborne where a rolling stock depot is proposed.

The HS2 impact report reads: “Locating the depot in an area with existing industrial and redundant railway land could encourage the growth of associated businesses and new jobs locally.

“Workers would be required and apprenticeships would be created during the construction of these facilities.”

But there will be consequences for the countryside.

The report continues: “The route would pass west of Pennington Flash Country Park and, with the proposed train depot and possible road realignments at this location, would result in visual impacts for users of the park and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, as well as residents.

“The open countryside between Golborne and Abram would be bisected by the proposed route.”

Lowton resident Linda Graham said: “It is really important that residents of Leigh, Lowton and Golborne are aware of why HS2 has come to our area, exactly what is proposed, and how the proposals, if implemented, are likely to affect us. Who knows what the future may hold in the longer term for our children and grandchildren.”

n Residents can drop in between 12pm and 8pm to view the proposals at Leigh Sports Village on November 22.