A THREAT to tourism and travel from Warrington has been laid out in a borough council letter.

The letter, sent to the Department of Transport and seen by the Warrington Guardian, outlines the council's concerns at a proposal to cut rail services through Bank Quay Station.

The Department of Transport is considering scrapping the CrossCountry service to make way for a new rail franchise based around Birmingham.

"The implications of this proposal are significant in terms of a reduction in direct connections and number of train services," said the letter, from the borough council's transport planning manager.

"The services which currently link Warrington to destinations such as Bristol, Plymouth and Penzance are important in connecting residents with leisure and tourism destinations.

"While interchange is possible at Birmingham, the access arrangements are poor. As well as severing direct connection with these destinations, the proposal will also reduce services to destinations in the north west like Crewe, Wigan and Preston. The removal of these connections is more significant to a large number of train travellers to and from Warrington."

The council has just committed £200,000 to improve Bank Quay and spent a similar figure on Central Station.

The Department of Transport's proposals say it is possible extra services may be introduced through Bank Quay to Birmingham if the CrossCountry service is scrapped.

The consultation for the proposals finished last week and a decision would take effect from November 2007.