Multi-million £ plan to move town’s bus depot

COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington are to be asked to approve a multi-million plan to relocate the town’s bus depot.

The move – to the council-owned Central Trading Estate on Dallam Lane – is seen as necessary because the present depot stands in the way of the long-proposed Southern Gateway project which would provide 1,300 new homes, jobs and other uses on brownfield land.
Planning consent for the new depot has already been granted.
The Southern Gateway project is based on a residential community of townhouses and traditional terraced streets within a formal network of streets and spaces linking into the adjoining existing residential streets.
A report by Cllr Hans Mundry, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for transportation and highways, says it would form a strong and attractive frontage to the Mersey with waterfront promenades from the town centre to Howley Quay and Victoria Park.
The enhancement of Wilderspool Causeway Bridge as a key gateway into the town centre would also be enabled with landmark buildings fronting onto both Warrington Bridge and Warrington New Bridge Street.
A number of existing sites would be incorporated in the Southern Gateway project including the former Wilderspool Rugby Ground, Wharf Street Industrial Estate, Marshall Gardens, St James’ Court, the existing bus depot and the Old Road car park, which is in fact now largely a used car dealer’s sales lot.
A number of other parcels of land owned by the borough council would also be included.
The council will fund construction of the new bus depot and demolition of the existing one – and has been successful in winning grant funding of more than £7 million to support this.
Financial implications and the viability of the relocation of the bus depot will be considered in private by the council’s cabinet on February 8 when members will be recommended to approve the scheme.