WELL done Nick Bent, the Labour politician, for speaking out and highlighting the problem for the future of Sankey Station.

If David Mowat has his way, then a new station will be built at Chapelford.

I understand the cost of the new station is around £9 million. And the station will be less than one mile from the current Sankey For Penketh Station.

Mr Mowat states he has not got a secret agenda to close Sankey. Well, I believe him — but at the same time he is not showing any common sense and he is showing a complete lack of understanding of the area.

He also states he wants the residents in Chapelford, Sankey and Penketh to have the same level of train service available to residents in Birchwood.

I would be interested to know how a new station makes the train service better? Surely you need more trains to improve the service.

David Mowat also claims in his newsletter that a new station will reduce congestion. At the same time he claims it is on a good bus route, and a new car park will hold a lot more cars. This, to me, would suggest it will increase congestion and there is a need to improve the bus service between all the local villages.

He also claims that the new station will increase job opportunities in the area. This is not true. The jobs will increase without the new station as more companies take space at Omega and Gemini industrial parks.

The facts are the old station has a very limited area for parking, and cannot be expanded; therefore there will be no increased congestion or pollution.

However, should a Chapelford station get the green light, then it will not be long before the old Sankey Station becomes defunct and dilapidated.

The solution would be improving the facilities at Sankey, and improving the bus service with a couple of shuttle buses connecting the three existing local stations.

Build houses on the area designated for the station and car park. This would be in line with the Government’s thinking on the need for more private and social housing.

Then spend the money left over on improving the hospital and building a decent multi-storey car park.

Come on Mr Mowat, hold up your hands and have the guts to say you have got it wrong and will channel all your efforts into providing better value for the residents of Warrington and spend the money on a better cause.

J Hartsorn Great Sankey