Labout  prospective parliamentary candidate for Ellesmere Port and Neston has called for support for rail  services in the constituency.

Justin Madders, who is also a local  councillor in Ellesmere Port Town ward, was speaking at a meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Council when the issue of the Halton Curve was discussed.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced £10.4m of funding to redevelop the line which connects Chester and North Wales with Liverpool.

Since the 1970s the single track route has largely been closed to passengers except for a summer Saturday service.

Campaigners have been calling for its reinstatement.

A motion, moved by Conservative  councillors, referred to improvements at  Frodsham and Helsby stations but made  no mention of Ellesmere Port.

Cllr Madders said:“I was a bit surprised  when I saw the motion did not express  support for improving the station at Ellesmere Port as the re-opening of the Halton Curve could have significant benefits to Ellesmere Port as well.

“It would in particular allow for direct  services to go to the south of Liverpool  and John Lennon Airport.

“In the medium term it would hopefully also allow for direct rail links to Jaguar Land Rover in Halewood.

“I therefore proposed a minor amendment to include Ellesmere Port within the Tory motion to make sure any work  the council did would also benefit rail  links to the town but they declined to  include it.

“I didn’t really get any proper explanation as to why they refused to support Ellesmere Port but its typical of the way  this council operates.”

He added: “In my speech I also referred  to the need to press on with the electrification of the Bidston to Wrexham line as that will be of enormous benefit to the people of Neston.

“It looks like we have probably missed  the boat in terms of any spending commitments this side of an election but I  will do my best to get better rail services  across the constituency if elected.”

The council agreed to welcome the  Government’s investment and to congratulate ‘all who have campaigned so  hard and for so many years for the Halton  Curve to be restored’.

It believes the benefits of the curve  being re-opened will be felt both within  and outside the borough with the prospect of easy rail journeys from North  Wales, Chester, Helsby and Frodsham to  Liverpool Airport as well as the wider travel opportunities to Liverpool and stations on the West Coast Main Line.

The council’s Executive is to be asked to  bring the ‘maximum benefit’ to the borough including opening talks with  Network Rail and others to ensure facilities  including the station car parks at Frodsham and Helsby will be able to manage  the expected growth in rail travellers.