‘Swing bridge plan could lead to more traffic misery’

6:18am Wednesday 21st March 2007

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PRESSURE is growing on Manchester Ship Canal owner Peel Holdings to make sure its shipping plan does not cause traffic chaos.

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The company's plan for a major set of docks at Salford requires more movements of swing bridges along the canal, including those in Warrington, to meet the increase in canal traffic.

The port scheme will go before Salford council's planning committee later this year - but people want answers now.

"If we don't deal with this work at Salford Quays and the increase in shipping traffic, I am sure all the (road) traffic heading south will be even more bunged up than it is now," said Clr Celia Jordan (LD), Stockton Heath.

She raised the issue at a bus conference staged at the Town Hall by Warrington Borough Transport (WBT).

"We know they send ships up the canal to coincide with the tide - and that's usually at peak traffic hours."

She said she had been asking for Peel Holdings to explain what the plan meant for Warrington for three years, and suggested that a holding station for the boats could help.

Nigel Featham, managing director of WBT, told the Warrington Midweek after the conference: "It's a significant concern.

"Having the bridge going up and down is difficult, but what makes it especially difficult is that you don't know in advance. It takes time for the bus system to recover from each swing "This is being done for the benefit of Salford. There's no benefit for Warrington, only the negatives."

The Warrington Guardian asked Peel Holdings how many swing bridge movements the Salford Quays plan was likely to generate, but the company did not answer the question.

Eric Leatherbarrow, head of corporate affairs, issued a statement: "We are currently in discussions with Warrington Borough Council about establishing a system giving early warning to motorists of shipping movements and bridge openings on the canal, utilising the authority's traffic information system."