CHANGES to plans for Warrington West station mean that there will be almost 40 fewer parking spaces at the site.

The car park was originally due to have 284 bays but the number has been reduced to 245.

The building will also be smaller and a separate car park for disabled drivers and electric cars will be built near the entrance.

And the platform, footbridge and stairs will no longer be covered.

The updated project, which covers two hectares of land on the southern edge of Chapelford, is set to be given the green light at a council meeting on Wednesday.

Around 800,000 passengers are expected to use the new station every year by 2025 and the scheme aims to provide better transport links for Lingley Mere and Omega business parks as well as residents in the west and north of the town.

The development includes a station building on the north side of the track, pedestrian shelters on both platforms and cycle storage.

The road immediately outside of the station will have a bus lane and three stops, as well as a ‘kiss and ride’ drop off point and taxi rank.

CCTV and lighting will be installed around the station and in the pay and display car park.

There will be 211 standard parking spaces, nine large bays and room for 14 motorcycles.

Parking will cost around £1 a day.

A consultation was launched in February for residents to have their say on the plans and 308 responses to the questionnaire were received.

The results showed that 76 per cent of people who took part supported the scheme and 77 per cent said they will use it.

But many respondents were worried about the future of Sankey for Penketh station, where the service will be reduced to a peak hour stopping train once Warrington West is completed. 

The planning documents say the council is ‘committed’ to lobbying the rail industry to improve the rail links for customers using Sankey for Penketh.