D-day for major building projects across region
A RAFT of major multi-million pound building projects in Runcorn and Widnes could be given the goahead today as Halton Council chiefs meet to decide whether to approve the borough’s capital works spending for the next three years.
About £193m is up for grabs over between 2016 and 2019, with a whopping £90.7m earmarked for 2016-17 and £94.1m for 2017-18.
The biggest proposed outlay is £102.5m for the construction of the Mersey Gateway, which does not include almost £11m for land acquisition for the bridge scheme, £5.4m on associated loan interest and a £10m investment fund.
Also prominent project spending featured includes just under £11m for the purchase of tech space for Sci-Tech Daresbury, £3.5m for Norton Priory, £2.6m for the redevelopment of the Crosville depot site in Runcorn and £1.4m for Widnes Market’s refurbishment.
A report published ahead of today’s executive board meeting said the council also expects £2.8m to be spent on 3MG freight park, more than £1.4m on Peelhouse Lane Cemetery in Widnes and £2m on Fairfield Primary School.
Disabled facilities in the borough are due to receive about £1.4m.
Other capital spending is due to include £8.2m on bridge and highways maintenance, £4.7m on street lighting and £4.1m on the council’s vehicles fleet.
Smaller schemes are featured in the spending plan such as £373,000 for the refurbishment of Grangeway Court, £179,000 on the regeneration of Castlefields in Runcorn, £221,000 on playground equipment and £156,000 on the Frank Myler sports ground in Widnes.
More than £500,000 has been pencilled in to spend on schools modernisation.
The Hive leisure complex is due to receive a £200,000 boost in spending on signs.
According to the report, £150m of the £193m over the three years will be borrowed, while £18.5m will come from Government grants and £16.1m from capital receipts such as building and land sales.