A DECISION on the strongly-opposed HS2 Golborne link is due to be announced before January following three years of uncertainty.

HS2 Limited has been updating the council regularly since the route announcement in 2013, which has included a number of briefings for MPs, councillors, parish councils and action groups opposed to the Golborne link.

Transport secretary and former Warrington South candidate 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.

The spur was set to travel through a number of homes in Culcheth, Rixton and Glazebrook – a move which Warrington North MP Helen Jones fears will 'inflict huge disturbance and environmental damage' on her constituency.

However, residents are set to finally be put out of their misery.

A 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."

Warrington South MP David Mowat praised the Government for its ongoing efforts.

He said: "Building a new line from London to the north and building new lines between the cities of the north are not alternatives, they are complementary and we need both."

The authority also said it was confident of securing an equal share of major funding for transport improvements in the north as it looks to play a key role in the Northern Powerhouse vision.

The spokesman added: "The council is playing a full role as part of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership in the work of Transport for the North.

"The council fully supports Transport for the North and endorses its aims of securing much increased levels of funding for transport improvements across the whole of the north of England.

"They are currently developing a transport strategy on which public consultation will take place in early 2017 – the council is confident that funding awarded will be allocated equitably."