A NEW iconic bridge across the Mersey will be a critical catalyst to the region’s regeneration, a public inquiry has heard.
Speaking at the opening of the Mersey Gateway inquiry, David Parr, the chief executive of Halton Borough Council said: “The bridge represents a catalyst to Halton and the wider sub-region’s social, economic and environmental regeneration.
“Doing nothing will inhibit economic development and accessibility in the region.”
But objectors, outlining the evidence they will present during the next five weeks, said the project was a “folly” which brought no economic benefits.
Lillian Burns, representing The Alliance bringing together the North West Transport Activists Roundtable and Friends of the Earth said: “There is no automatic connection between providing new road space and economic benefit.”
She said the new bridge would create more traffic and bring no benefits, only creating increased environmental problems of pollution, odour and nuisance.
The Alliance also hammered home their concerns about the environment.
Mrs Burns said: “This is an out-dated scheme which bears no relationship to today’s sustainability agenda and which does not stand up to serious scrutiny.
“There can be no guarantee that the hoped-for economic benefits will be delivered, and there are many environmental unknowns.”
She accused Halton council of not investigating how the new bridge would affect the Mersey Estuary Special Protection Area.
She said the bridge’s construction would disturb the river bed and that the bridge supports could affect tidal flow.
But, during the opening remarks for Halton Council, representative Timothy Straker said the full range of relevant environmental considerations had been taken into account.
He said the Environmental Statement revealed “the long-term and permanent cumulative effects results in mostly positive effects including regeneration and improvements in health.”
