PLANS are expected to be unveiled this week for the Parkside link road in Newton-le-Willows.

The link road would run through the Parkside site, connecting the A49 to the M6 Junction 22, and will support the proposed development on the site of the former Parkside Colliery.

The planning application, which is expected to be submitted to St Helens and Warrington councils later this week, follows a public consultation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders in the area last summer.

Barrie Grunewald, St Helens Council, said: “The Parkside development represents an extremely attractive proposition for logistics and warehousing companies looking for a prime location on the motorway network.

“A new link road would not only attract businesses to the site but would clearly benefit local people and commuters by taking pressure off Winwick and the A49, as well as addressing air pollution and congestion throughout the wider area.

“During a public consultation last summer, it was highlighted time and again, by local people, just how essential the new link road would be to the area.”

More than 300 residents attended the consultation events, with all feedback given consideration in developing the designs for the planning application.

The consultation presented residents with a range of options and proposed the council’s preferred route for the link road, which has been designed to reduce congestion in the area.

The proposed link road would help to divert traffic away from Newton le Willows, Winwick and Hermitage Green, including the potential lorries and heavy goods vehicles associated with phase 1 of the Parkside Regeneration scheme, if planning permission is granted.

Cllr Jeanie Bell, ward member for Newton, said she and fellow ward councillors Seve Gomez-Aspron and Sandra Dyer, welcome the news.

She said: "As the local councillors, we have been very clear that Parkside should be connected directly to the motorway Network to keep the traffic off local roads.

“We have pushed hard for this and it is fantastic to see the plans drawn up.

“This new link road will also be able to be used by drivers leaving Newton to join the M6 to cut out the traffic jams at Winwick."