Council pledge over cash for Gateway

Feb 5 2009 by Adrian Short, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

ASSURANCES that cash can be found for the proposed Mersey Gateway bridge, despite a twoyear, £22m funding shortfall, have been issued by Halton Council.

At a recent meeting, councillors learned of the shortfall and heard the public inquiry is being delayed by two months until May.

Cllr Tony McDermott, leader of Halton Council and chairman of the Mersey Gateway Partnership, said rising land acquisition costs would put a strain on the council but there was “no financial crisis”.

The land acquisitions for the bridge will cost an estimated £28m.

He said there would be a short-term funding shortfall as a full funding grant is not expected to be issued until April 2011.

He said £22m needed to be found on top of the £6m already identified in the current capital budget.

Cllr McDermott said: “The cost of land acquisitions shouldn’t be a problem, but the way funding is allocated gives us a problem over the next two years.

“We are stepping on the gas and buying land, but there’s no overall shortfall.

“The schedule of the money means we won’t get the big chunk until 2011, 2012 and 2013.”

He added: “We’ve found the money so far, £16m in development costs, and I’m confident we are well funded.

“We are talking about capital not revenue costs. This will put a strain upon us but there is no crisis and I’m confident we can work within our remit and look after our taxpayers.”

The meeting also heard the Department for Transport was to issue terms for the inquiry before December 23, but this has been extended until February 23.

The move allows tolling proposals for the new bridge to be reviewed against proposed tolls on the existing bridge and the inquiry is due May.