He added: Looking at predictions, the pinch points with Warrington come in the first four years, after the bridge has been in place for five to 10 years, Warrington will benefit from reductions in traffic, lower than it sees today.

Im absolutely delighted that Warrington Council is supporting the scheme and that weve come to an agreement.

Mr Parr said the cost of any mitigation measures would come out of toll revenue.

The announcement came as the National Alliance Against Tolls (NAAT) put forward their opposition.

John McGoldrick, of the NAAT, said there was massive opposition to the scheme.

He said tolling the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge (as well as the new bridge) was setting a national precedent tolling an already free to use bridge.

He also questioned the legality of a so called residents discount which the council hopes the negotiate with the company building the bridge.

Mr McGoldrick, during cross-examination of David Parr, said: One of your proposals is that residents are charged less to cross the bridge than other people, what is the legal basis for this discrimination?

He went on to say that the majority of frequent, current users of the SJB, 80% of them, were from outside Halton so wouldnt benefit at all.

He asked Mr Parr if a referendum was going to be called in line with those seen in Manchester.

In response, Mr Parr said the discount wasnt a resident only levy but a frequent user charge.

* RESIDENTS who want to give their view on the proposed new second bridge over the Mersey  are being their chance tonight.

A special evening session of the public inquiry into the Mersey Gateway Project has been  scheduled for tonight at 7pm at Runcorn Town Hall.

The Inspector wants to hear local residents' views for and against the project during the  session in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall.
 Anyone can go along and give their views without registering in advance.