THE chief executive of Peel Ports has hit back at Warrington Borough Council over claims that they have refused to acknowledge the issues surrounding the swing bridges on the Manchester Ship Canal.

Gary Hodgson said they were ‘disappointed’ by the council’s comments and argued that there was ‘disconnect within the council organisation’.

Mr Hodgson: “We are somewhat disappointed by Warrington Borough Council’s comments regarding the swing bridges in Warrington as we have been engaged in active and what we thought was constructive dialogue with the cabinet member for transportation as well as with other senior highways officials within the council.”

“The comments issued by Warrington Borough Council seem to suggest some disconnect within the council organisation.

“In a series of meetings with them over the last two years, we have discussed and agreed a number of actions to mitigate the issues associated with the swing bridges.

“Peel Ports has already implemented a number of these measures, including increasing the number of night time and off-peak sailings, to help ease traffic issues in Warrington.”

Mr Hodgson said he hopes to work ‘productively’ with the council on the issue but it is the council who have been dragging their feet on the implementation of measures to alleviate the problem.

He added: “Peel Ports has also carried out all the required actions to support an early warning swing bridge alert system.

“We now just await implementation of the messaging by Warrington Borough Council on their signage and matrix warning infrastructure.”

To read the council's statement on the ongoing dispute over the swing bridges, click here.

To sign our petition, click here.