Works around Wingates in Westhoughton getting underway

This comes with road works having got underway last week to realign part of the A6 in Westhoughton to provide access to the expanded Wingates Industrial site.

Around 1.1 million sq/ft of manufacturing and logistics space are set to be developed at the site.

Cllr David Wilkinson, of Westhoughton South, said: “Obviously it's happened whether we like it or not, and a lot of people in Westhoughton didn’t like it.

“But it was approved by Bolton Council by everybody apart from us because they thought of money, money, money.

The access road will be changed (Image: Public)

“Well, we’ll see if any of it is spent in Westhoughton.”

He added: “It’ll bring thousands of extra vehicles.”

Cllr Wilkinson said that since Places for Everyone, a blueprint for development across Greater Manchester was approved, the town can expect a lot more plans to be put forward.

He said: “What we want to see as a town hall is for as many conditions put in place as possible that will bring as many benefits as possible to Westhoughton.”

How the roads looked before works got underway (Image: Public)

The plans to expand Wingates, near Logistics North, were approved back in January 2020 with the scheme to alter the access road given the go-ahead in December last year.

A further council meeting in June heard from deputy leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman that the authority hoped Bolton-based workers would benefit from the expansion.

The existing A6 will stay open while the new access road is built with private access for vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained during the building process.

Traffic control measures like traffic lights will be in place as works progress.

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North West Harworth development director David Burnkinshaw said: “Construction of the new, dedicated access road to the Wingates site is designed to help improve traffic flows on the A6 Chorley Road.

“Off-site highway improvements are also planned as part of the wider Wingates employment scheme, which will provide substantial benefits to the existing network as well as accommodating traffic generation from the development.

“We are continuing to work with local residents to ensure that they are kept informed throughout the works, and we hope that the landscaped buffer and green, planted area, as well as the new cycle lanes and improved safety measures will also benefit the wider community.”

The road works are expected to be finished by spring next year.