Whats
Happening
Locally
This page keeps you up to date with the latest news and developments affecting our community. From planning updates and council decisions to local projects and resident-led initiatives, it’s a space to stay informed and involved in what’s happening on our doorstep
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1
Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2050
Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2050 and the Delivery Plan (2027-2037) is underway. This consultation runs ends on Monday 9 March 2026 at 11.59pm.
These key documents set out plans for future transport investment across Greater Manchester, including Wigan Borough, through to 2050, including the Bee Network and wider transport network.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are seeking your views on these two new documents.
You can find access to more information and details of consultation drop in events, at the following link.
2
Upgrades to the Junction of Winwick Lane/Newton Road
Here are details of works that commenced on Monday 20th October at the junction of Winwick Lane and Newton Road. These works were expected to last approximately 15 weeks.
Essentially the works consist of;
New northbound traffic signals will be installed approximately 130m south of the Winwick Lane/Newton Road junction
Installation of new pedestrian crossings at the junction, and improvements to the footway and underground ducting.
The road remained open for the majority of the works, with temporary traffic signals in operation. There were some lane closures for short periods of time and minor disruption to footways but access for residents, refuse collection, and emergency services was maintained at all times.
The new traffic lights are due to be operational from February 6th 2026. We will be monitoring the situation and keeping a close eye on how they work and whether there is any drop in the emissions figures going forward.
3
NO2 Results at Lane Head
2024 [click here for full details]
NO2 results for 2024 have been released, and once again, the levels around Winwick Lane are slowly coming down below legal limit. (but only just). These results are a clear reminder that our community deserves cleaner, safer air - and meaningful action to make that happen.
2023 [click here for full details]
NO2 results for 2023 have just been released, and once again, the levels around Winwick Lane are above the legal limit. This isn’t just a statistic - it’s a real concern for everyone living in the area. Long-term exposure to polluted air can affect our children, our elderly, and those with existing health conditions the most. These results are a clear reminder that our community deserves cleaner, safer air - and meaningful action to make that happen.
To protect our health, the UK Government sets air quality objectives for NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) in their Air Quality Strategy: This aims to protect us from being exposed to NO2 over a long period of time and is of most concern due to its impact on health. Road transport is the main source of these emissions and Winwick Lane and the surrounding area is particularly worrying. The objective should not exceed 40 μg m-3 as an annual average. We await the results for 2024 later in the year.
4
Intermodal Logistics Park North (ILP North)
Many local residents will be aware of and followed proposals for the development of a Strategic Freight Rail Interchange (SRFI) and associated warehousing at Parkside. Ever since the Parkside colliery was closed in 1993 St Helens Council have had desires to redevelop the colliery area. However, their ambitions have involved land far beyond the original footprint of the colliery. Read More >>
5
Congestion
Around 12,000 vehicles pass through Lane Head daily, 21% of them HGVs (Wigan figures). Queues are common on Newton Road, Kenyon Lane and Winwick Lane.
After years of campaigning, residents succeeded in having Winwick Lane de-primed in 2017, allowing a southbound 7.5t weight limit to be introduced in 2023. Warrington Council, however, has refused to apply the same limit northbound, citing enforcement issues despite having restrictions elsewhere in the borough.
Wigan, with Government approval, installed ANPR cameras at the end of Winwick Lane, leading to over 2259 prosecutions by August 2025.
September = 513
October = 565
November = 421
December = 331
Some HGVs still use the lane, as fines (£70 or £35 if paid promptly) are often cheaper than late delivery penalties. This has pushed more traffic onto Newton Road. LHSRG continues to press for a weight restriction there.
6
Lane Head Bypass
A bypass has often been suggested to ease congestion and improve air quality at Lane Head. Wigan are considering a route from the A580 east of the bypass to Dolly’s Bridge on Winwick Lane, as Warrington will not allow it across their land.
For LHSRG, a bypass is a last resort, as it would take green belt land and could encourage further development.
Wigan and Warrington Councils, together with National Highways, are assessing the impact of the Tritax IPL development on local and strategic roads. Early evidence suggests mitigation may be needed in the form of the Lane Head South Bypass, but final traffic modelling is still underway. Tritax’s support would depend on data showing increased traffic through Lane Head as a result of the ILP.
Proposals for the Manchester United stadium and the Freightliner SRFI at Trafford Park may also affect the Tritax plan.
7
Tritax Big Box Developments
Tritax Big Box Developments (TBBD) is a company that specialises in large scale logistics development. In July 2024 TBBD launched a project named ‘Intermodal Logistics Park North (ILP North)’, basically a SRFI and associated warehousing. The scale of the proposal is shocking and is far larger than previous proposals. Read More >>