RESIDENTS have been told the Western Link would enable the potential for ‘much greater green space’ – despite it ripping through huge chunks of green belt.

John Laverick, a senior figure in Warrington and Co’s development team, highlighted the council’s mission to improve the levels of green space during the recent supporting the local economy policy committee meeting at the Town Hall.

Port Warrington is one of the main employment sites proposed in the draft local plan.

But the port which, it has been stated, will only be developed if the Western Link is built, would see 76.36 hectares of land removed from the green belt.

If developed, it would result in the loss of part of Moore Nature Reserve.

The Western Link is also planned to go through Sankey Valley Park and Morley Common.

Mr Laverick said: “We also have the potential for much greater green space that is enabled by the Western Link, Moore Nature Reserve and Sankey Valley Park.”

The council says it recognises the impact new strategic road infrastructure can have on green space.

A spokesman said: “However, such infrastructure also provides opportunities to link up and improve accessibility to existing green spaces through walking and cycling.”

During the meeting, Mr Laverick also highlighted the importance of keeping the town centre ‘connected and moving’ as part of the masterplan for the area.

The council says it is committed to developing ‘strategic, integrated and reliable’ transport infrastructure to support the changing needs of residents, businesses and visitors.

But the comments over green space and transport have been criticised by Helen Gurnani, one of the Canaries on Tour campaigners.

She said: “So we are supposed to rejoice that ploughing the Western Link through Moore Reserve, Morley Common and Sankey Valley Park will refresh us with green spaces other roads cannot reach? Let’s destroy established green space to create more of it?

“And wont this ‘access’ to wonderful never-ending peripheral green space soon hit a grey wall that is Liverpool and Manchester and destroy any distinction that is left for our town?

“We pointed out ages ago that the council would only be ‘playing chess’ with the Western Link – taking congestion and pollution from Bridge Foot and dumping it elsewhere.”

She believes the Labour-run council has ‘failed to show otherwise’.

“In the spirit of Extinction Rebellion, we should think what is really necessary and what is urgently needed – and this is not giving Peel Holdings a leg up for Port Warrington,” she added.