by Lesley Wilkinson
A COUNCILLOR has suggested "people power" should be used to stop disruption in a village centre every time a canal swing bridge is used to allow shipping through.
Cllr Tudor Pole (pictured), of Stockton Heath Parish Council, said: "What we need is some sort of day of action - we should all stand on the bridge, refuse to move and see what happens."
The council was discussing additional disruption likely if plans by the Peel Ports Group to increase shipping on the Manchester Ship Canal go ahead.
Members were told every time the swing bridge was opened to shipping it took at least 45 minutes for road traffic congestion to ease.
Increased use of the canal would mean increased congestion on the roads.
Cllr Pole said: "If it takes 45 minutes to get the traffic back to normal and the use of the bridge is increasing, we might as well just close the village down."
But Cllr Stephen Taylor said a lot of Peel Ports' plans were "aspirational".
Although there were plans for a "Port Warrington" on the canal, it might never happen as it would depend on economics.
Cllr Tudor Pole (pictured), of Stockton Heath Parish Council, said: "What we need is some sort of day of action - we should all stand on the bridge, refuse to move and see what happens."The council was discussing additional disruption likely if plans by the Peel Ports Group to increase shipping on the Manchester Ship Canal go ahead.
Members were told every time the swing bridge was opened to shipping it took at least 45 minutes for road traffic congestion to ease.
Increased use of the canal would mean increased congestion on the roads.
Cllr Pole said: "If it takes 45 minutes to get the traffic back to normal and the use of the bridge is increasing, we might as well just close the village down."
But Cllr Stephen Taylor said a lot of Peel Ports' plans were "aspirational".
Although there were plans for a "Port Warrington" on the canal, it might never happen as it would depend on economics.
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4 Responses to ""People power" to stop bridge swinging" 
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said this on 19 Oct 2011 8:34:09 AM BST
May be Cllr Pole could suggest to Peel Ports Group to recommend to ship company's to use lower and smaller ships so they could sail underneath the bridge without disruption to traffic?
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said this on 19 Oct 2011 4:32:41 PM BST
That would be a submarine then.
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said this on 19 Oct 2011 5:44:03 PM BST
Edward, with ideas like that, you should be working for the WBC good ideas department or better still, get elected and become a Cllr, you get my vote.
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said this on 19 Oct 2011 9:37:51 AM BST
I would imagine that the bridge could be moved with people on it perhaps a charge could be made for the experience.
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