WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter is urging Warrington Borough Council and Manchester Ship Canal owners Peel to sit down and talk to sort out urgent swing bridge maintenance following more traffic chaos in the town.
Traffic came to a standstill again yesterday when the Chester Road swing bridge stuck in the open position again. Similar issues have occurred with the swing bridges at Stockton Heath and Latchford.
Mr Carter said: “Whenever we have a prolonged period with the bridge ‘stuck’ open we get a taste of what a 9-month full closure would be like for traffic trying to get from one side of the town to the other.
“The swing bridges are clearly in need of maintenance. Peel Ports advise me that they have contractors who are able to carry out the repairs. But it’s important for Peel and Warrington Borough Council to sit down and find a solution, to allow work to take place without total disruption to the road network in South Warrington and mitigation to ensure pedestrians can easily cross the ship canal, without making an unreasonable detour.”
While Peel agreed to start the maintenance they sought to close the Stockton Heath swing bridge for nine months to allow the works to take place safely. Warrington Borough Council refused to give the road closure notices required, due to the traffic implications across the town.
Meanwhile, traffic issues in Warrington were compounded further by road works currently taking place on the Crosfields roundabout near the town centre.
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The construction, operation and maintenance of the Manchester Ship Canal required an Act Of Parliament for it to be built. The Manchester Ship Canal Act1885. Surely there must be some regulations in the act that cover the upkeep and reasonable operation of the facility.
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