Halton Council, NAAT, Friends of the Earth and the North West Transport Activists’ Roundtable make closing statements to Mersey Gateway Project inquiry

Jul 2 2009 by Mark Smith, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

CLOSING statements have been submitted by all parties as the public hearings into the Mersey Gateway Project reached their conclusion.

Statements were received from the National Alliance Against Tolls (NAAT), The Alliance (a combination of Friends of the Earth and the North West Transport Activists’ Round Table), and Halton Borough Council.

The hearings have been running for the past six weeks at The Stobart Stadium, Widnes.

A total of 19 expert witnesses have appeared on the council’s behalf, and further backing for the project has been voiced by Halton MPs Derek Twigg and Mike Hall.

There were 15 statements of opposition from objectors.

Bridge bosses said a potential supplementary session has been earmarked for July to allow the inspector, the landowners involved, and Halton Council further time to consider technical issues.

The issues relate to an area of open space in Widnes, next to Thermphos and St Helen’s Canal.

Alan Grey, the inspector conducting the public inquiry, will then write up the findings into a report which will be presented to the Secretaries of State for Transport, and Communities and Local Government, along with a recommendation as to whether the project should proceed.

A decision on the £431m project is expected in early in 2010.

If approved, construction work would begin in 2011, with a view to opening in 2014.

Steve Nicholson, Mersey Gateway project director, said: “Over the coming months we’ll prepare our plans for the procurement phase so we’re in the best possible position if the project is given the go-ahead.”