WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has slammed the government’s response to questions about toll bridges as “totally inadequate.”
The MP tabled a number of questions following complaints from constituents about congestion caused by the Warburton toll bridge near Warrington.
The toll was established by an Act of Parliament in 1863 which means that, although the law is archaic, it can only be repealed by a further Act of Parliament.
Warburton bridge is one of around seven bridges in the country covered by such an Act of Parliament.
Ms Jones said: “The answers from the minister responsible show that the government is totally unaware of these problems.
“They told me that there are no plans to carry out a further review into the bridges and the volume of traffic passing over them and, in a response to my request for what information they hold, have commented only on an applications to vary tolls, which I didn’t ask about.
“ The Department of Transport needs to get a grip and carry out a proper review of the bridges operating under nineteenth century Acts of Parliament and the problems they cause.“
6 Comments
she does a lot of slamming but with very little in the way of results.
what a negative comment, Togger.
But factual Susan, she is in a position to do so much more than she does,
One of our two local Labour MP’s. But with two vastly different approaches. The fresh faced new MP for Warrington South raises an issue over the Mersey Gateway tolls before seeking a meeting with the minister to put the case directly and face to face. Meanwhile the long standing veteran MP for Warrington North simply fires off an e-mail to the relevant minister but makes absolutely no effort whatsoever to broker a face to face meeting to press her case. Firing off an e-mail takes five minutes and requires little or no effort. Repeatedly hounding a minister for a meeting and subsequently visiting them, takes considerably more effort. Old school or new school? With each day she is starting to resemble yesterdays woman.
Maybe she is aiming at the wrong target. Under Section 271 of the Highways Act it is for WBC not the government to consider buying out the bridge from Peel Holdings. They could compulsory purchase, possibly.
If correct then (and as Helen would say) ‘one’ would think that she might have done her homework on this beforehand.