Mersey Gateway - protests fail to stop crossing

Jul 31 2008 by Oliver Clay, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

Protests fail to stop crossing

COUNCILLORS unanimously approved the Mersey Gateway plans at a meeting on Monday despite protesters’ objections.

Following the seal of approval, Halton Borough Council’s leader, Cllr Tony McDermott, said: “This is a major milestone for the project and keeps us on track to deliver a new crossing that will be a catalyst for delivering major changes and improvements for the future of Halton.”

But earlier in the meeting, Lillian Burns, of the Transport Round Table, said the environmental impact was unpredictable, and Deni Newman of Halton Friends of the Earth said the MOD had not been consulted about mustard gas, mercury, and arsenic contamination on Randle Island.

Claire Hall, Mersey Gateway project manager, said the team had liaised with the MOD and was fully aware of contamination issues.

The meeting also heard that Halton Borough Council was very experienced at dealing with contamination.

Mark McLoughlin, of Halton Lodge, said residents in Palacefields and Sutton Park had not been consulted.

He said: “Our democratic right to be heard has been hijacked and objections to the project have not been published.”

Members of the MG team said 24,000 consultation letters had been posted and that it had never been policy to publish objection letters online, but they were available for public viewing upon request.

Cllr Sue Blackmore said that under the new arrangements children could be in danger crossing the Silver Jubilee Bridge and said extra traffic on the Central Expressway could create an area of ill health.

Claire Hall responded saying that air quality would improve due to better traffic flow, improved public transport and cycling facilities.

It was also revealed that 398 letters of objection had been received.

Following the council’s approval it is likely that the project will go to a public inquiry before construction begins.