Pay up or we won't back bridge (From This Is Cheshire)

Pay up or we won't back bridge

2:18pm Thursday 17th July 2008 in

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DEVELOPERS behind plans for the new Mersey bridge have been told to pay up to help ease Warrington’s congested roads or face opposition to their plans.

Warrington borough councillors have told counterparts in Halton they must help combat an expected rise in traffic or WBC will withdraw support for the scheme.

Warrington councillors believe motorists will drive through Warrington rather than pay tolls on the proposed new bridge and the existing Runcorn-Widnes bridge.

Despite these concerns, Warrington councillors have decided to support the proposals in their official response to the plans for the new bridge, which will open in 2014, as long as there is funding between the two sides to fund jam-busting schemes.

Clr Alan Litton (LD), speaking at Monday’s council executive board meeting, said: “The adequate mitigation measures will have to be real, not just getting into conversations about them. Our continued support will be dependent on real mitigation being achieved.”

The principle of imposing tolls on motorists leaves the neighbouring authorities at odds with one another.

“Part of Halton’s argument is that the impact of these tolls will not be significant and our argument is that the impact will be significant,” said Clr Litton.

According to a council report, should a medium-level toll of around £1.30 be introduced, Warrington’s two river crossings – Bridge Foot and Kingsway – would see an increase in projected traffic levels in 2015 by four per cent, though Halton says it would mostly affect times outside peak rush hours.

Steve Hunter, of the council’s environment department, said the town suffers from congestion above and beyond rush hour, particularly in locations such as Bridge Foot, which would be ‘the most obvious route traffic would take trying to avoid tolls’.

Clr Terry O’Neill, leader of Warrington’s Labour group, said: “We have got to be realistic and put some measures in place to help the impact on Warrington. We have always been in favour of the Mersey Gateway.”

Councillors heard how discussions to get funding for improvements to transport provisions for both Warrington and Halton are continuing.

A public inquiry into the proposals is expected at the end of this year but councillors were told there was no guarantee funding would be in place by then.

Clr Tony McDermott, leader of Halton Borough Council and chairman of the Mersey Gateway executive board, said: “We recognise that any increase in traffic through Warrington is a concern for residents and will be working closely with Warrington to see what improvements can be made.”

The executive board has asked for a progress report in two months’ time.