Runcorn hauliers happy as government promises cash to build new bridge
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NORTH WEST-BASED hauliers have welcomed the government's decision to give the green light to a new Runcorn-Widnes bridge, Plans for the new £440m Mersey Gateway toll bridge, to the east of the 50-year-old Silver Jubilee bridge, were frozen in June, ahead of the government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) last month.
However, in his CSR statement, Chancellor George Osborne gave the go ahead for the building of the six-lane structure by 2014.
Stobart Group, which opened a chilled distribution centre for Tesco in Widnes earlier this year, says its trucks make about 1,500 trips over the current bridge each day.
Steve O'Connor, Stobart Ports MD, says: "I am delighted with this news as this is an important piece in a jigsaw that can mean new jobs and investment for Halton and the Mersey Multimodal Gateway.
"What we need now is planning approval to be granted at the earliest possible opportunity, so we can begin the task of creating jobs and developing multimodal distribution and warehousing opportunities at Stohart Park."
Andrew Palmer, MD at Widnes-based Suttons Group, says his company is giving a "cautious welcome" to the plans.
He adds: "It is good news for the area the current bridge is an appalling and notorious traffic black spot, which inhibits our operation and is sometimes immensely frustrating.
"The only concern we have is that the money we will potentially save in fuel costs will be undermined by the planned imposition of toll costs on both the existing and new bridges:" Neil Cain. TDG Transport depot manager in Runcorn, says: "A second Runcorn bridge will help to reduce congestion, which in turn improves the service levels to our customers."