NEW blueprints are currently being studied which should cut the cost of the proposed Bridge Foot bypass.

Previous plans for the relief road scheme have included costly road bridges over Arpley railway sidings, linking Wilson Patten Street through Centre Park to Brian Bevan island.

But now an alternative route, which would involve rerouting part of the railway line at Bank Quay, is being considered.

Currently the sidings run alongside Slutchers Lane and come to a halt opposite Wilson Patten Street.

Talks are now taking place over the prospect of constructing a new rail link, which would connect the sidings to an existing line, which runs to Fiddlers Ferry power station and on to Liverpool.

Officials from Network Rail, the successor to Railtrack, and the Strategic Rail Authority are involved in discussions, which could benefit from rail freight grants.

The negotiations, covering the technical feasibility and cost of the proposals, are expected to be finalised by Christmas.

Mike Batheram, the council's strategic transport planning manager, said: "This is a much tidier and neater scheme, and means all of this area, running parallel to Wilson Patten Street, could be redeveloped."

Proposals would also create improved links between the town centre and Centre Park development, he added.

A new junction would be built where the bypass meets Wilson Patten Street, which would become a one-way route travelling towards Bridge Foot.

Land to the west of Warrington Old Bridge, near to Mr Smith's nightclub, could then be pedestrianised.

The Department of Transport is understood to be happy with the revised bid, which would be the subject of further public consultation before it went ahead.

Council transport chiefs say 83 per cent of those polled, at public exhibitions of the original bypass, were in support of the plans.