MP hopeful slams bridge support (From This Is Cheshire)

MP hopeful slams bridge support

1:34pm Tuesday 17th March 2009

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AN agreement supporting the new Mersey Gateway signed by Warrington Borough Council has been condemned by a Conservative MP hopeful.

David Mowat has called into question the agreement between Warrington and Halton councils that offers support for the scheme to build a new bridge across the Mersey.

The Warrington South MP candidate said: “There are no concrete proposals to mitigate the traffic increases in Warrington apart from sharing data on traffic levels after construction. The only thing which will make a difference is the level of toll to be imposed and the agreement is silent on that.”

Because both the new bridge and the existing Silver Jubilee bridge will become tolled bridges it has raised concerns over an increase in traffic as motorists avoid paying the fee by travelling through Warrington.

Surveys on traffic levels predicted that it would rise by 4 per cent in the town should a medium tariff be imposed on the bridges, but that figure shot up to 10 per cent should a high tariff be brought in.

When the plans first went on show councillors voiced their concerns over the impact of already congested roads in the town.

“The Government has cut infrastructure spending in the north west to divert cash to pay for the Olympics overrun,” Mr Mowat added, “we are just fiddling at the edges of what could be a major problem.”

The memorandum of understanding between the two councils was approved by Warrintgon council’s executive board and is set to be agreed by Halton councillors later this month.

A public inquiry into the new bridge will start in May.

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