On Tuesday in the House of Commons, Warrington South MP Andy Carter led a debate to discuss issues with Warrington’s transport infrastructure. The MP was prompted to call a debate after the planned maintenance works to the Stockton Heath swing bridge, originally due to commence in April, were put on hold owing to an impasse in talks between Peel Ports and Warrington Borough Council over mitigation costs.
The repairs to Warrington’s three swing bridges, all nearly 130 years old, have been estimated by Peel to cost around £6million for each bridge. Andy Carter MP told the House of Commons that the proposal by Peel to have the bridges permanently swung open for the nine month duration of the works could result in a roughly two mile diversion, resulting in more schoolchildren becoming eligible for free home to school transport.
The MP explained that the ‘sticking point’ in the talks was Peel’s refusal to acknowledge any responsibility to cover these costs as part of the mitigation.
Highlighting that the legislation permitting the Bridge to open was first written in 1885 when Queen Victoria was on the throne, Andy Carter said it was now time to review the legislative framework under which the Canal is operated.
Summing up his remarks, Andy Carter MP said:
“Warrington was designated a new town in 1968. Since then, the population has more than doubled, yet our transport infrastructure simply has not kept pace with the increased demand.
“The Borough Council are all for building homes on the Green Belt in South Warrington, but they’ve failed to address the infrastructure needed to keep traffic moving. An additional high-level crossing, which was planned near to the existing cantilever bridge, has never materialised between Stockton Heath and Latchford, despite land being reserved for it.
“At the same time Peel is attempting to play catch-up with essential repair work to vital crossings, closing the bridge without addressing how pedestrians can get to school or work isn’t good enough. Peel has the rights to charge boats to travel along the Canal – leaving the bridges open benefits the Canal Company, they should contribute to the mitigations for local residents.”
Responding on behalf of the Government, Transport Minister Richard Holden MP told the House:
“On the matter of managing the impact of that disruption to the local highway network, it is for the local highway authority, Warrington Borough Council, to assess the needs of the local community, including residents, visitors and businesses, and to weigh up the options. I recognise that the bridges are out of the local authority’s direct control. It is therefore vital that the local authority and Peel Ports work together as closely as possible to manage any disruption caused by the works. I understand that discussions between the local authority and Peel are ongoing, and I hope that a reasonable solution can be found so that the whole local community can benefit.
“Warrington Borough Council is receiving around £5.5 million of it this year… [from the Government]. It will be for Warrington to determine which aspects of its highways maintenance programme it wishes to prioritise. The Council may want to look at how it can use some of its money, potentially working with Peel Ports, to look at the issues that My Honourable Friend raises.
“In answer to My Honourable Friend’s question about the Manchester Ship Canal, we are always willing to look at historical issues and legislation. I urge him to write to me about it in detail so that I can give him a properly detailed response. Given that it is a piece of Victorian legislation, it would need to be looked at it in depth, due to the intricacies that it will involve and the many other pieces of legislation that will interact with it across Government.”
As yet, no further date has been agreed for bridge repair works to take place.
