THE Silver Jubilee bridge between Runcorn and Widnes is being closed twice on Sundays this month for essential repairs. Sandwiched between these closures will be the opening, next week, of the public inquiry into plans for a second crossing of the river between the two towns.

One of the central arguments of the supporters of the scheme is that the existing bridge is wearing out. Without a new crossing, they argue, economically crippling delays will be experienced as closures forced by repairs become more frequent and traffic is diverted through Warrington.

Only months after the Kirkby Inquiry, Liverpool City Region is to witness another major opportunity for objectors to air their views at a full public review of plans for a major piece of infrastructure. Cynics will say that these are window dressing exercises. Once all the views have been heard the establishment gets its way, so the argument goes. But inspectors are free to vary or reject schemes and have done so in the past. Let’s hope all get a fair hearing when the inquiry opens at the Stobart Stadium in Widnes next week.

Halton Council sees the Mersey Gateway scheme as vital to the economic regeneration of much of the southern part of the Liverpool City Region. Halton wasn’t in the old Merseyside but since it broke away from Cheshire, the authority has increasingly been drawn economically north rather than towards Chester.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive David Parr and council leader Tony McDermott, Halton is now playing a growing part in the Liverpool City Region with the Gateway project at the heart of its strategy.

Parr is in no doubt what the future would hold for Runcorn and Widnes without the new crossing. He recently forecast that 25 years from now the area’s economy would stagnate if this major transport link from the sub region to the rest of the country is not built. Parr believes there is major growth potential for Liverpool Airport and the 3MG freight park in Widnes.

But there is widespread opposition ranging from environmentalists and local residents to the major objectors, those opposed to tolls.

The levy will be imposed not only on the new bridge but the existing crossing. The council says that without tolls there is no funding and that local people will pay nothing or benefit from substantial discounts. For those that do pay, the early indications are that the toll will be around £1.40 for a single car journey. The National Alliance Against Tolls says the government collects £50bn a year from road users and should find the money for this scheme without tolls.

The inspector will also hear from the Road To Ruin group which is worried that changed traffic flows in the Central Expressway area will blight their lives.

So let battle commence next week between Halton Council, excited about the prospect of improvement in the economy and the environment, and the objectors who anticipate only new charges and disruption.