A NEW crossing over the Mersey is back on the agenda as a way to tackle congestion around the town centre.


Warrington Borough Council is set to get £5.3 million towards a new crossing which will help traffic around Bridgefoot and help kickstart the Warrington waterfront regeneration project.


And there will also be £5 million towards junction 8 improvements on the M62 to help access with Omega while £2.14 million will go towards a scheme to ease congestion in the Birchwood area.


The funding comes from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, which has handed £142.7 million to Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).


In 2015-16 the region will get £20.1 million from that total with Warrington projects getting £12.44 million.


Clr Terry O’Neill, leader of the council said: “We worked hard alongside our colleagues at the Cheshire and Warrington LEP and at Cheshire East and Cheshire West councils in the production of our combined strategic economic plan which best suited the growth ambitions of the county and sub region.


“This allocation of funding is great news. In Warrington in particular it is a major boost for our ambitious plans to grow the local economy, creating hundreds of new jobs and improving the town for future generations.”


Steven Broomhead, chairman of Warrington & Co Warrington’s partnership for driving growth added: “This is fantastic news for the region, the county and Warrington. Infrastructure is key to growth and these funds will not only keep the region on the move but also fuel Warrington’s continued growth and success.”

Warrington South MP David Mowat said: David Mowat said: "This is great news for motorists in Warrington.

"Congestion is one of the top issues being raised by the transport survey I am currently conducting across south and west Warrington.

"Our road network is close to breaking point and it is holding the town back. I congratulate Warrington Borough Council for working constructively with me to obtain this funding.

“I’m particularly delighted that a new Mersey crossing, which I’ve been lobbying for for some time, is now finally going to get the go-ahead.

"Anyone who was stuck in Friday evening’s gridlock in the town centre will know just how badly that is needed.”


The Government has also agreed to explore how the land assets owned by the Homes and Communities Agency can be used to support the economic growth of the town.


The borough will also benefit from other project funding including the Skills Capital Employer Programme.