Comment: Bridging the gap to brighter future

Feb 4 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THE dream of a new bridge across the Mersey has been talked about – dreamed about, even – for so long that there is a mounting sense of excitement in the region that the vision might almost be within sight.

An exhibition opening today at Brindley Theatre and Arts Centre, Runcorn, looks forward up to 30 years in the future as regeneration options for five areas affected by the new Mersey Gateway bridge are put on display for all to see.

Even though it will be another six years before any bridge might actually open, and many more years after that until redevelopment plans are completed, it is only right that the authorities are looking at this now.

After all, this is a major change in the infrastructure of the Runcorn/Widnes area, one that is aimed at bringing major benefits to businesses and residents, and one which undoubtedly merits the most careful consideration and pre-planning, to ensure that it is exploited to the full.

It is not without irony, however, that the exhibition opens in the wake of another two weekends of delays and disruption on the old Jubilee Bridge, following yet another bout of road repairs.

There will be an unequivocal welcome for the new bridge if the scourge of congestion that has blighted the crossing for so long can finally be lifted.

What will not be so welcome, however, is the end of free travel between Runcorn and Widnes. When the Mersey Gateway project will cost upwards of £390m, the transport authorities have made it quite clear that it cannot be funded without the introduction of tolls.

And tolls must obviously be introduced on both bridges, or the new crossing would achieve absolutely nothing.

That is painful to say, but, in that oft-quoted adage beloved of politicians: “No pain; no gain”.

The exhibition which opens today will help to ensure that the project receives the fullest possible consultation. There can be no other alternative – this scheme is so important for the Halton and wider Merseyside areas that it is vital we get it absolutely right.