A LOWTON councillor and campaign group have vowed to continue fighting to stop the HS2 railway line going through the village despite the plans receiving final government approval on Monday.

The high speed line is set to run through the village near the track of the old Lowton St Mary’s railway station.

Cllr James Grundy and the Lowton East Neighbourhood Development Forum (LENDF) are opposed to the plans as they say having trains regularly zooming past will blight the lives of those living at nearby Braithwaite Road and Pocket Nook Lane.

Cllr Grundy, the conservative candidate for Leigh at the recent General Election, said: “We are disappointed the Government has approved plans for the line to run through Lowton but we have not given up hope of changing that.

“Houses on Braithwaite Road and near Pocket Nook Lane will be close to the proposed line, which could make them blighted areas to live in the future.

“Work is not expected to start until 2022 so nothing is set in stone.

"There is still a chance to overturn this and we will be fighting for that.

"If we ultimately fail we will be campaigning for the line to be roofed over in Lowton and for those affected by the line to receive adequate compensation."

The Government originally wanted to build a HS2 depot in Lowton but has now confirmed it will be built in Crewe instead.

This U-turn has allayed fears of grade II listed buildings Byrom Hall on Slag Lane in Lowton and Lightshaw Hall in Golborne having to be torn down and Pennington Flash Country Park in Leigh being affected by the new line.

Cllr Grundy and LENDF campaigned against the original plans.

He said: "We are delighted our campaign to stop the depot being built in Lowton has been successful and the route has been changed.

“The fact it was originally going to go through the front lawn of Byrom Hall and that Lightshaw Hall was going to be knocked down was ridiculous, so the current plan is much improved from what it initially was."

The new line will also run through Wigan railway station, and business and council leaders have welcomed transport secretary Chris Grayling giving the plans the go-ahead.

They have hailed the plans for the Wigan borough to become the north west’s gateway to high speed rail a major inward investment opportunity.

With the west coast mainline joining the high speed network just to the south of Wigan – and connecting to Crewe, Birmingham and then London Euston – HS2 bosses say passengers will be able to get to the Midlands in 35 minutes and the capital in one hour and 23 minutes.

They also claim there will be more than 8,000 extra seats for commuters per day.

Cllr David Molyneux, Wigan Council's deputy leader, said: "The announcement by the Government is another significant milestone for the borough.

"Wigan is one of the best, if not the best, strategically placed boroughs in the north west for business and HS2 will help us deliver widespread economic benefits for our residents in the years and decades ahead.

"We will be able to transport people quickly to the cities in the south and welcome business quickly to the borough.

"There will also be great job opportunities for our residents in the various stages of design, delivery and operation of the new rail line, as well as for local businesses to be involved in the supply chain.

"I welcome the Government's pledge to get the new line built as quickly as possible.

“Avoiding any further delays will support the economies of the Wigan borough, Greater Manchester and the whole of the north."

It is estimated the HS2 extension is set to be completed by 2033.

Martin Ainscough, a leading Wigan-based businessman and chairman of the Ainscough Group, said: “Both from a business and tourism perspective this improved connectivity cannot be overstated.

“The ability to be in our capital city in just over one hour is amazing.

“I think most people still underestimate the Wigan borough’s fantastic geographical location in the heart of the heavily industrialised north west.”

HS2 critics say the £56 billion project will damage the environment, is too expensive, will run over budget and will create havoc during construction.

Penny Gaines, chair of the Stop HS2 campaign, said: "The budget for HS2 has always seemed more fantasy than reality.

"Up until now the Government has been getting away with it, because the bulk of the spending will come later.

"But as construction comes nearer the real cost of HS2 will have to be paid.

"It is time to cancel HS2 and use the money that will be saved on things that will benefit more people rather than a few fat cats."

The Wigan borough is home to 320,000 residents, has 12,000 businesses and has growth plans to create tens of thousands of new jobs over the coming decades.