A PETITION to save Sankey for Penketh station has been launched after residents fear its days are numbered thanks to plans for for a new train station near Chapelford.

Warrington Borough Council opened a consultation into proposals for the new station, which will have services to Liverpool and Manchester as well as a 250-space car park.

But under the plans, trains through Sankey for Penketh Station will be reduced to a peak hour stopping service.

Andy and Sandra Moss started the petition which has been signed by more than 780 people.

Andy, who grew up in Great Sankey, said: “The station is quite well used and they have recently spent money on the car park and a refurbishment of the main building with a new roof; I am sure this will have come at significant cost.

“I don’t know why they would decide to open another station just 800 metres down the line.

“There is a car park, cycle and pedestrian access but that’s not going to help residents who are in their seventies or older.

“We feel that the focus is now on Chapelford and Great Sankey and Penketh may lose out.

“They are saying Sankey for Penketh Station won’t close but with just one train in rush hour and cutting the other services, it’s only a matter of time."

A spokesman for the council said: "We do not wish to see the Sankey for Penketh station closed. The station will not close and is protected for the life of the current franchise to 2025.

"There is very little capacity to expand Sankey for Penketh Station, it is closely surrounded by housing and businesses.

“The car park has limited capacity and there are already issues with overspill parking of rail passengers in surrounding streets. The new station at Warrington West will have a car park with a capacity of more than 250 spaces.

“Warrington West will bring major benefits to rail passengers travelling to and from this part of Warrington.

"The station will be more easily accessible by cycle and on foot than Sankey for Penketh and it will have a greater number of bus services serving it.

“We will be improving the pedestrian links between Sankey for Penketh and the Warrington West site, a distance of approximately 800 metres.

“The two station sites are currently also linked by a bus services and when rail timetables are being developed, we will work with bus operators to integrate services as much as possible.

“We will be considering the outcomes of the ongoing public consultation very carefully and will discuss any areas of concern put forward.

"We have already protected Sankey for Penketh from closure, if there is any chance to increase services the council will pick this up as part of our ongoing liaison and with the rail industry.”

To view the plans visit warrington.gov.uk/info/201251/other_projects/2022/warrington_west_station and to sign the petition visit you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-sankey-station.