CAMPAIGNERS who are vowing to 'fight until the end' turned out in force for a protest at the Town Hall ahead of Monday's full council meeting.

Residents made their way to the site to protest against the controversial local plan preferred development option (PDO) and proposed £195 million Western Link scheme.

Maxine Harmon, who formed the Warrington Preferred Development Option & TPT Bypass objection group, which has more than 4,500 members, issued a strong message to the council.

She said: "I am so delighted with the turnout for our protest, however, I always had faith that the people of Warrington from all sides would come together and unite.

"We made our presence known and have backed up our objections with a visual protest.

"We remained dignified, focused and steadfast.

"The unity of all groups across Warrington – whether it be the Western Link, The Sloop, the WA4 group, the Moore group – all came together as one.

"Our objective is to make our presence felt and I certainly feel we achieved that tonight at the protest.

"This is only the beginning, we will not go away – this is our town and we will fight until the end."

During the full council meeting, Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Bob Barr pressed council leader Cllr Terry O'Neill on the local plan PDO.

He said: "The PDO consultation has generated, in my 11 years on this council, unprecedented public response.

"The PDO has not even been supported by the town's MPs."

Cllr O'Neill 'thanked' Cllr Barr for his input but accused him of putting on 'crocodile tears'.

He said: "The PDO is part of a long process, which this Government decides.

"I say crocodile tears because I can remember your administration, from 2006 to 2011, and all you wanted to do was sell Walton Hall.

"The PDO, as you know, is a thorough process we have to follow – no decisions have been made yet."

Later in the meeting, Cllr Judith Guthrie, executive board member for environment and public protection, insisted the authority will 'carefully consider' all views put forward during the PDO consultation.

She added: "The local plan is a statutory process, it is not something we have just dreamed up to upset people.

"Future generations will never forgive us if we don't make the right decisions for this town."

The Mayor of Warrington has issued an apology regarding his behaviour while accepting a petition from a four-year-old campaigner last night. 

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