PLANS for a new high level crossing over Manchester Ship Canal have been given the green light after the Government confirmed it would invest an extra £15.1million into Cheshire and Warrington.

The funding will be distributed to the Cheshire and Warrington local enterprise partnership (LEP) between 2016-2021, in addition to the £142.7million already secured.

The 'growth deal' will provide the town with a second high level crossing over Manchester Ship Canal to ease traffic congestion, and follows confirmation of a bridge across the River Mersey that will bypass Bridge Foot from Chester Road to Slutchers Lane.

On a recent visit to the town, prime minister David Cameron highlighted the need for investment and has now tipped the funding boost to help sustain Warrington's development.

“Giving local communities the power and the money to unlock growth and development and make the spending decisions that work for them is a key part of our long-term economic plan to secure a brighter future for Britain and ensure a recovery for all," he said.

As well as resources from central Government, the LEP has agreed a package which will ensure support is received from Warrington Borough Council and the private sector.

Council leader Terry O'Neill said: "Warrington Borough Council has very ambitious regeneration plans which are set out in Warrington’s framework for growth, 'Warrington Means Business', which was adopted in 2013.

"Warrington waterfront is a major initiative in our plan and will create 2000 new homes and 2000 new jobs close to the heart of the town.

"We’ve already been successful in gaining funding for the first phase of the waterfront's infrastructure - to build a new bridge from Chester Road into Centre Park over the Mersey.

"We are in discussions with Government to deliver our ambitious plans and hopefully funding will be provided for a new high level bridge over the ship canal.

"This will not only open up the Waterfront area for new jobs and homes, but will also provide a lasting solution to Warrington’s most pressing congestion issue. 

"The council has been working hard to achieve this and I’m pleased that at long last we are moving toward achieving our goal."

Warrington South MP, David Mowat, who has been campaigning for such a bridge since he was elected believes the development will be influential for the town.

However, despite the latest move, Mr Mowat will continue to push the project up the priority list of the Government and council by lobbying ministers and raising the matter repeatedly in parliament.

“Today’s announcement is a real shot in the arm for the local economy," he said.

"Jobs are being created here, but our creaking road network is preventing the town from reaching its full potential.

“When I first started banging on about a new bridge, people told me 'forget about it, they always talk about it but never build it' - this time, things are different, there is now real momentum behind the campaign and I’m determined to see it through to completion.”

Rival Labour candidate for the Warrington South constituency, Nick Bent, has also lent his support to the move but has warned that road tolls must be cut at to truly benefit the town.

He said: "Labour has proudly led the campaign to deliver a new bridge over the ship canal and I’m pleased we can now proceed but coalition ministers must also listen to Warrington drivers and scrap the road tolls on the Mersey bridges at Runcorn or traffic chaos here will go from bad to worse."