TOWN Hall chiefs are being urged to carry out a Brexit 'risk assessment' after concerns over a potentially 'devastating' impact on businesses in the town.

Cross-party grassroots campaign group Warrington for Europe – which is calling for a referendum on the terms of the final Brexit deal – has launched a petition urging the council to assess the impact of leaving the European Union.

Warrington for Europe says its research has uncovered a leaked Government briefing paper indicating the north west will be 'impacted' by a two per cent fall in its economy under a 'soft Brexit' and a 12 per cent fall on a 'no deal', or World Trade Organisation 'hard Brexit'.

Group chairman Graham Gowland, from Lymm, said: "We should not be relying on leaked documents – the potential impact on Warrington is very worrying.

"The figures apparently produced by our own Government show how hard Warrington could be hit.

"We need our council to assess the effect of leaving the EU on our local economy, services and the environment and to share that information with us.

"We have started a petition to ask Warrington Borough Council (WBC) to carry out a risk assessment on the impact of leaving the European Union and for this assessment to be published by the end of 2018.

"We also call on WBC to support a 'People's Vote' on the final outcome and to campaign for the best for Warrington."

Fellow group David Myall, from Appleton, added: "The worst case 'no deal' would be devastating for local businesses, as it will directly translate into less money going into our economy – in simple terms if you run a shop, and have 100 customers a day, if we leave the EU in a disorderly way, you will only have 88.

"The NHS and other local services, which have seen years of cuts, will suffer again.

"This is an issue which should matter to everyone, regardless of the way they voted in the 2016 referendum.

"We all want the best for our community and we need to begin with local impact assessments."

The council has not commented on whether it will carry out a special risk assessment.

However, it pointed to deputy leader Cllr Russ Bowden's statement two weeks ago when he said the authority is 'very aware of growing concerns' over the possibility of a 'no-deal' Brexit.

He added the council has 'reflected' this in its existing strategic risk assessment – and that it is currently 'difficult to truly understand' what 'no deal' could mean.

MP Faisal Rashid says he wants to see a deal 'that is best for Warrington South and best for Britain'.

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He added: "A deal that protects jobs, the economy and rights.

"I understand the arguments for and against having a referendum on the terms of the final Brexit deal.

"At this moment in time, we have absolutely no idea what kind of deal, if any, our Prime Minister will make with the EU.

"While I am not calling for such a referendum, I strongly believe the Government must now allow Parliament to exercise full scrutiny over the Brexit process.

"Furthermore, Parliament must be given a real say on the final terms of our exit from the EU.

"It is simply not good enough for the Prime Minister to try and restrict Parliament to a take it or leave it choice between whatever deal she secures, or crashing out of the EU with no deal at all.

"Given the last two years of abject failure of the Government in negotiations with the EU, we need to be prepared for the Prime Minister to fail to deliver the Brexit deal that our country needs.

"When this happens, I strongly believe it will be the duty of Parliament to set the direction for the next steps and that it should have all options on the table at that time."

To view or sign the petition head to tinyurl.com/WarringtonRA