A DECISION on the highly debated HS2 rail link is due to be announced before January following three years of uncertainty.

HS2 Limited has been updating the both Wigan and Warrington Councils regularly since the route announcement in 2013, which includes a proposed link in Wigan borough and another in Golborne.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling has reaffirmed the Government's intention to push on with the project, but uncertainty still surrounds the link despite continued calls for ministers to reveal further details.

Leigh has been without a railway station since 1969 but many residents have been hoping that the plans could bring rail access back to the town.

Lord Peter Smith, leader of Wigan Council, said: “I want to see HS2 built and running as quickly as possible because I firmly believe it will bring significant benefits to Wigan Borough, the wider Greater Manchester economy and be a key factor in the Northern Powerhouse.

“Not only will the construction of the network create job opportunities for residents, once the line is up and running it will act as a catalyst for investment into the borough.

“It will dramatically improve our connectivity, drawing in jobs and economic activity as there is not enough capacity in the current network to allow to economy to expand and improving our connections with London is vital for Wigan and the rest of the North.

“We also support the development of HS3 which will improve east-west links across the North and further strengthen the transport infrastructure.”

However, Warrington Council are ‘strongly opposed’ to the proposed Golborne link.

A Warrington council spokesman said: "HS2 has stated that an announcement is expected on the route of Phase 2B of HS2, the route from Crewe to Manchester and the Golborne link, before the end of 2016.

"The council remains strongly opposed to the Golborne link and in its consultation response submitted in 2014 suggested that improvements should be made to the West Coast Main Line instead, between Crewe and Wigan, including improvements to Warrington Bank Quay station to accommodate HS2 services."