RESIDENTS are set to fight plans for a proposed link road to ease Traffic congestion between Wigan and Atherton.

On discovering that the A5225 scheme from the M6 at Pemberton to Atherleigh Way was once again on the agenda they called a meeting with Leigh MP Andy Burnham.

Following consultation he has promised to set up a face-to- face get together with planners at which residents will have the opportunity to find out all the proposals and the timetable for themselves.

Spokesman for the group Mark Harper, of Bexhill Drive, Leigh, has leafletted the area appealing to residents to object to the Wigan Unitary Development Plan, of which the new road is a part, before May 13.

He said: "The proposed route is adjacent to a number of housing developments and will affect house prices, wildlife and have an effect through noise and air pollution.

The original route 5225 was ditched following a public inquiry in 1995 when the government shelved plans to build all new by-passes.

Wigan Council has now decided to go ahead with the road using private finance.

Junction

The proposed road will leave the M6 at junction 26, the M58 junction, progress east through Scotsmans Flash, Springview, and Low Hall Park until it means the old railway line near HIndley Prison. It then tracks east following the railway cutting until it meets the B5236 and the A579 at their junction at Howe Bridge. Traffic will then disgorge onto LoversLane/Schofield Lane/Lower Leigh Road and Park Road to go northbound on the M61 or through Atherton and Over Hulton to travel southbound.

Mr Burnham said: "The road is on the agenda and will affect people along the route. Rumours are starting to circulate and I want to ensure that people are fully consulted on what is going on.

"I hope to set up a meeting at which residents will be told exactly what is going to happen and make their position clear.

"There is no planning application in at the moment but people need to be aware of it. There are wider benefits of such a road but residents can't be trampled over. It is my job to see that they get the facts and I must do my best to help them."

A Wigan Council spokesman said: "When the motorway scheme was rejected by the government Wigan Council took over plans

There will be public exhibition and consultation from June onwards, but people most closely affected by the scheme are already aware of it.

"Proposals for the revised scheme will feature a dual carriageway to Westwood and single one to Atherleigh Way

"It is nowhere near the planning stage which is likely to be 2005 at the earliest."

"Surveying is now under way but Bexhill residents aren't affected under the new plans. The Highways Agency owns

that land and may be getting rid of it because we don't want it."