OPPONENTS to work proposed by a muti-billion pound rail project will get their chance to voice their displeasure after a public inquiry was announced.
The Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will see the line between Manchester and York electrified, has been met with opposition in Saddleworth.
Moorgate Halt, the Uppermill level crossing that is earmarked for closure with a footpath diversion in place, is the centre of many protests.
But work that would see Greenfield Station remodelled – and the road closures for bridge work on Oldham Road, with fears of traffic chaos for weeks – is as contentious.
Now Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander has decided a public inquiry into the Transport and Works Act Order applied for the Stalybridge to Diggle stretch will take place.
And those wishing to make their representations have been given until February 23 to make their submission.
A letter from the Transport Infrastructure Planning Unit of the Department for Transport states: “The Secretary of State has decided to hold a public local Inquiry into this application.
“The first stage in the Inquiry process is for participants to prepare a “Statement of Case”.
“If you (or a representative on your behalf) intend to present oral evidence to the Inquiry, the Secretary of State requires you to provide a Statement of Case to the Transport Infrastructure Planning Unit no later than 23 February 2026.
“The Statement of Case must be accompanied by a list of any documents to which you intend to refer in your evidence and copies of those documents (or relevant extracts from them).
“We will write again to those intending to give oral evidence.”
Under the order, Moorgate Halt’s closure – and that of the footpath 209 it stands on – is one of several schemes in Saddleworth.
Many feel a footbridge should be installed instead, but a Transport and Works Act Order submitted to the Secretary of State of Transport suggests that will not happen.
Documents supporting it state: “To provide alternative access following the level crossing closure, the Footpath 244, which passes under Wickens Underbridge, will be upgraded in order to provide an alternative route for pedestrians to cross the railway line at this location following the removal of the level crossing.
“The footpath upgrades will include resurfacing, new steps, repairs to existing footpath features, regrading of land and the removal of vegetation which currently hinders access along the footpath.”
A costing document revealed the total of electrifying and updating the stretch of track between Stalybridge and Diggle as almost £225 million.
That includes remodelling Greenfield Station to make it accessible on both platforms while also installing new equipment on Saddleworth Viaduct and several bridge alterations so new trains can run along the line.
Among several schemes put forward are the establishment of a temporary site compound, utilising the existing parking area for the Friezland Church Hall.
Earthworks, devegetation and resurfacing to establish a permanent maintenance facility at Oaklands Road, including the widening of an existing vehicular access and the creation of a new second vehicular access from Oaklands Road is also suggested.
Site compounds on land between Oldham Road and Chapel Road and a permanent parking area off Den Lane, approximately halfway between the Den Quarry Underbridge and the properties on Den Lane – currently occupied by trees and vegetation – are also proposed.
News of the public inquiry has been greeted with delight by Saddleworth Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who is not necessarily opposed to the work being proposed, more how it is being done.
He said: “I’m delighted to hear that there is now going to be an inquiry into the planning for the TransPennine Route Upgrade.
“While this work is critical, particularly the accessibility improvements at Greenfield Station, it needs to be done right.
“That means minimising the impact on local businesses, a sensible approach to protecting the local environment and not closing Moorgate Halt.
“As part of the Saddleworth Parish Council team that submitted a 10-page response to the DfT, we just want to see this done well, and at the moment it isn’t.”
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