Council to support toll bridge

TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are to support plans for a new toll bridge spanning the Mersey at Halton – despite fears that the toll will lead to increased traffic congestion in Warrington.
Council leader Ian Marks said: “Another bridge will be great – the only issue is the toll.
“Despite our reservations, we are prepared to continue to support the plans. There are precedents in other parts of the country that show tolls can change.
“Tolls are not necessarily there for ever more.”
Coun Bob Barr, (pictured) executive member for planning and regeneration said: “We have to consider the long term economy of the North West.
“At this particular time, nobody would forgive us if we missed this opportunity to create employment in construction.”
A public inquiry into the Mersey Gateway bridge – which will stand alongside the existing Silver Jubilee bridge – will open at Widnes on May 19.
Coun Barr said the existing bridge was no longer sufficient to cope with the weight of traffic and also would soon by in need of repair. The Government had made it clear that if a new bridge was built it would have to be funded by a toll.
The problem with this was that it could lead to increased traffic congestion in Warrington, caused by vehicles taking a diversion to avoid the toll.
However talks had taken place with Halton Council and, with a great deal of good will on both sides, had produced a framework which enabled Warrington to support the proposals at the public inquiry.
There would be measures to reduce the impact of potential additional traffic in Warrington and, in the overall strategy, there would be some benefits for Warrington.