Link owner pledges to ease daily tailbacks

WHAT PEEL PORTS SAY... “Peel Ports Group is aware of the frustrations experienced by users of the Warburton Toll Bridge and welcomes feedback from the local community. We have met with Warrington and Trafford councils and there is a commitment from all parties to a further meeting in January which will involve Peel Ports Group, Warrington council, Trafford council and representatives from the Warburton Toll Bridge Action Group. Peel Ports are committed to addressing the concerns expressed by the community and will share details of the planned improvements in due course.”

WHAT TRAFFORD COUNCIL SAYS... A Trafford council spokeswoman said the bridge was not under their control but they appreciated residents were suffering from the issues it causes.

She said the council had met with Peel Ports Group and that the firm ‘recognised the bridge needed refurbishment’.

She said the company was going to enter into a process to obtain a Toll Bridge Order Procedure to do bridge maintenance and install an automated tolling system to improve traffic flow. She said there were also plans to resurface the route and put in traffic calming measures to serve 10,000 vehicles a day.

She added: “They require statutory provisions to do this work and hence need to apply for a Toll Bridge Order. This work has already started. The council is arranging to meet with Peel and Warrington council again alongside representatives of the Action Group to see what arrangements could be made in the immediate and shorter term to try and address the issues that are presently faced daily.”

WHAT WARRINGTON COUNCIL SAYS... “We continue to discuss development proposals with Peel Ports in relation to Warburton Toll Bridge.”

WHAT NETWORK WARRINGTON SAY... “Network Warrington don’t use the toll bridge and have, for many years, omitted Warburton village at peak times because of congestion caused by traffic queueing for the toll bridge.”