Timothy Straker QC outlines Halton Borough Council’s case in Mersey Gateway Project public inquiry

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

THE projected employment benefits of the scheme have been outlined in Halton Council’s closing statement.

Timothy Straker QC said that according to the project’s transport expert, Alan Pauling, businesses would benefit from the crossing to the tune of well over £200m.

He said: “Net consumer user benefits amount to £7.5m and net business user benefits amount to some £222m.

“Accident savings are recorded at £41m and carbon savings are given as £9m.”

He said additional benefits would include greater business investment and innovation, and that there could be as many as 5,000 new jobs at the 3MG Multimodal Gateway site.

He added the scheme would also enhance opportunities for international trade, assisting a more ‘globally active’ market for the area.

He added: “There is expected to be direct job creation in both the construction and operational phases.

“The direct construction effect alone is quantified as amounting to some 370 permanent full-time equivalent jobs.

“Indirect additional employment through the 39-month construction period is calculated at 470 local additional full-time equivalent jobs. Direct operational jobs are expected to be in the order of 983.

“However, these job numbers are dwarfed by the job creation expected as a result of the wider economic effect of the project.

“The evidence here is that the project, assisted by the related Mersey Gateway Regeneration Strategy – will facilitate the creation of 4,640 jobs from direct employment, inward investment and regeneration effects.

“Among the more deprived regeneration areas residents, employment opportunities are expected to increase by 2,967 jobs, with an overall net benefit just within the regeneration area of 1,233 jobs.”