RAIL COMMUTERS seem prepared to bite the bullet of paying twice for improvements to Central Station.

The borough council is giving First Group £200,000 to do the station up - money that partly comes from council tax.

However, privatised rail companies like First Group were expected to pay for improvements themselves.

Commuters accepted subsidising the improvements was a necessary evil.

Karen Rosterne, from Cambrai Avenue, in Latchford, said the station needed improving because: "If you travel by train you judge a place by its station. And Warrington does not sell itself well by its stations."

The 47-year-old business accounts manager for BT added: "I don't think the majority of the money should come from the local council, there's far more essential services they need to provide."

Jo White, a 42-year-old Ikea worker, from Nansen Close, in Old Hall, said: "It does definitely need doing up, but It is a bit unfair that the tax payer should pay for improvement work to be done.

"It should be half and half."

That idea was echoed by Chris Burns, aged 21, a law student, from Raleigh Close, in Westbrook - especially as he said a better station is needed to complement the town centre regeneration.

But Emma Hallworth from Callands Avenue, a 17-year-old telesales employee, said: "The private companies should get into gear and pay for it themselves.

"If we have to pay for it we should at least get a say in what gets done."