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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Tom Duffy

Families 'can't sleep' over 'unbelievable noise' near their homes during the night

Families say they can't sleep due to "unbelievable noise" near their homes in the middle of the night.

People living near the site of a new train station in Kirkby have spoke out as work is carried out through the night. The new station at Headbolt Lane formed a central part of Metro Mayor's Steve Rotheram's new transport plan for the region.

The £80m station, which will allow passengers to travel to Wigan and Manchester on Northern Services, is set to improve public transport in the region. Neighbours on Hillpark Crescent in Kirkby have now shared video footage which shows Network Rail crews working through the night on a line near the new station.

READ MORE: New cheaper bus fares begin across Liverpool City Region

A spokesman for residents in the area said that noise and vibration from the work had caused huge distress amongst families. The footage shows work taking place yards from people's back gardens during the early hours of the morning. The clips, filmed over recent months, show crews using heavy plant machinery during the early hours of the morning.

One person can be heard saying "what an absolute joke". The spokesman for residents said: "We have a new born baby in the house as do several of the neighbours The noise has caused loss of sleep and at times has been impossible.

"One of the neighbours is really worried about the affects the noise and lack of sleep is going to cause on their baby."

The spokesman said that the noise began in June. He said: "The work started in early June, and the crews started work at 7pm and finished at around 7am. The noise during this period of time was unbelievable. "

Kirkby residents have complained about crews working around the clock on the Headbolt Lane station project (handout)

The new station, which is set to open in spring next year, has been delivered in partnership with Knowsley Council, Network Rail, Merseyrail and Northern.

A spokesperson for Network Rail, who are leading the construction work, said that the majority of activity has taken place during the day. The spokesman added that some work was necessary at night for safety reasons and to keep some trains running during the day.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We're very sorry our work on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to build a brand new station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby has disturbed some residents.

“The majority of the construction work takes place during the day. For safety reasons and to keep trains running during the day, we deliver some of the work at night, which can be noisy.

“We remain grateful to residents for their patience. Through our regular letter drops and events, we’ll continue to keep people informed on our temporary activities to transform transport links in the area. ”

Headbolt Lane will be the first new station opened under the Merseyrail For All plans, which aim to expand the local train network through a combination of brand new stations in underserved parts of the region and by utilising new technology on the region’s new publicly-owned trains.

The new station plans include step-free access throughout the station, a bus interchange, cycle storage, links to active travel networks, passenger waiting facilities and toilet and approximately 300 park and ride spaces.

Northern services from Wigan and Manchester will also operate to and from the new three-platform station. Headbolt Lane will be the first station to benefit from battery technology on the new trains for the Merseyrail network, removing the need to extend the third rail beyond the existing Kirkby station.

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