LEIGH MP Jo Platt has launched a petition calling for the reopening of Golborne Railway Station.

After being elected in 2017, the Labour representative has held numerous meetings with Government ministers, transport authorities and councillors pushing for a new railway station in her constituency.

And now she has set up a petition in which she states reopening Golborne Railway Station is the “quickest and most straight forward first step” to increase rail connectively in the area.

This is because the tracks are still in place at the site of the former station with trains running past.

The Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office also wants to link the guided busway to the proposed station to create a connection for Leigh.

Leigh Railway Station closed 50 years ago in 1969 and Golborne Railway Station shut in 1961.

Ms Platt said: “After two years of positive meetings it is time to take the next step and show the transport authorities and ministers who hold the purse strings the strength of feeling we have across the constituency.”

“We have been without rail connectivity for 50 years now. That is totally unacceptable.

"We urgently need and deserve this connectivity to connect residents with the jobs, education and leisure opportunities that will make our community an even greater place to live and work.

“I won’t stop fighting until rail access has been secured because our towns have been held back for too long.

"It’s time we find our voice and demand that our potential is unleashed.”

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The petition argues that the reopening of the station would also reduce the reliance on people using the East Lancashire Road and M6.

The MP is asking Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to work with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Transport for the North (TfN) on the proposals.

Ms Platt has also been encouraged by the announcement TfGM will be carrying out a feasibility study and a transport review for the whole constituency.

And plans made by TfN also set out that it is possible for multiple railway stations to be available in the area too.

More than 1,000 people have signed the petition. To visit and sign it go to www.joplatt.mp.