COUNCILLORS are making a renewed push to create a new railway station that would transform a shabby gateway and significantly boost the transport network.

The idea of building a railway station at Carr Mill has been mooted since the 1990s but the plans have never materialised.

In 2009 draft proposals were drawn up to regenerate the site off Laffak Road and there were even detailed consultation meetings with residents.

But ambitions went quiet until being drawn back into the public domain in the last month.

In his speech to full council last week, Cllr Barrie Grunewald, said: “We have asked for the development of a station at Carr Mill to be brought forward by Merseytravel to support people to travel between the cities and St Helens and to ensure that this link helps people to access employment opportunities only offered currently on the Merseyrail service.

“This is an important part of our transport plans going forward and reports will be brought back during this year.”

Meanwhile, Cllr John Fulham, a St Helens Council representative on Merseytravel, said that electrification makes it easier to slide a station stop into the timetable.

He said: “Carr Mill makes strategic sense both for St Helens but for all the Liverpool City Region economy.

“It opens up opportunities of jobs, shopping and leisure. It may also offer a connection point for Haydock races (with a bus shuttle).”

However, given the failure of the plans to materialise in the past there are those in the Laffak and Carr Mill areas who are sceptical about any of these proposals coming to fruition.

The St Helens Green Party have also voiced concerns that plans for the local rail network seem to be an afterthought in the region’s pecking order.

But Merseytravel has confirmed it will examine the need for a station.

A spokesperson said: “We are due to carry out a study later this year to establish the demand for a station at Car Mill and will be working closely with St Helens Council on this.

“The outcome of the study will help us establish whether it would be feasible and economically viable to take plans forward to the next stage of development.”