Tribunal to control canal swing bridges

AN independent tribunal should be set up to control swing bridge openings at Warrington if no “fair compromise” can be reached with Manchester Ship Canal operators Peel Ports.
This is the view of Nick Bent (pictured), Labour Parliamentary candidate for Warrington South.
He says the three bridges at Warrington now swing 100 times a year at peak, rush-hour times – an increase of 40 per cent in one year.
He believes an acceptable compromises would be closer to 50 times a year – and vows to get a fair deal for Warrington motorists.
Mr Bent said a radical new plan is needed to ensure a fair balance between traffic on the canal and on the town’s roads – both of which are vital to Warrington’s future prosperity.
Peel Holdings and the Atlantic Gateway are important commercial partners for Warrington and a mutually beneficial partnership is vital to the town, he believes.
But the current legal stranglehold – through the Manchester Ship Canal Act – that Peel Ports has on the swing bridges may have to be broken.
He condemns the coalition government for failing to even consider a review of the act.
“We need a credible fall-back plan if Peel puts private gain ahead of Warrington’s well-being.”
The borough council is meeting Peel on March 4, by which time the council will have completed its joint modelling analysis on the cumulative
impact on traffic in the town from 100-plus swing bridge openings at peak times and the significant new tolls on the Mersey bridges in Halton, which were announced in December.
If the cumulative impact is bad, the council may ask for the number of peak time bridge openings to be reduced to 50 a year.
Mr Bent said: “As a last resort, if Peel refuses to be fair to Warrington drivers, Labour politicians in the town will take steps to create an independent tribunal to make decisions about the swing bridges – similar to the way night flights are controlled at major airports.
“Our roads are the lifeblood of Warrington but it seems Peel has its boot on our neck. I hope Peel will be reasonable but if not an independent tribunal may be the best way to balance traffic on the ship canal and our roads.”