ANYONE who has tried to drive across Warrington at just about any time of the day – with the possible exception of say 2am – will know just how bad the traffic can be.

But there is always the potential for it to get worse, much worse.

All it takes is an accident on one of the motorways and chaos ensues.

There is no resilience. There is no plan B.

If there is a problem on the M6 anywhere from Wigan to Crewe it is Warrington that suffers.

Which makes me wonder why, then, are their almost 20 miles of roadworks and narrow lanes – the perfect conditions for accidents – from junction 16 at Crewe to junction 19 at Knutsford.

Anyone who listens to breakfast or afternoon 'drive time' radio shows will have heard on a daily basis about accidents in those roadworks.

Surely there are lessons to be learned here.

I completely understand we will all benefit in the long-term when that stretch of the M6 is upgraded to a so-called smart motorway but what I don't understand is why the works have to cover such an inordinate length.

There is no doubt narrow lanes demand a greater level of concentration but it's also no surprise concentration levels do tend to waver when it goes on for mile after mile.

I speak from personal experience here after being confronted with the Crewe to Knutsford chicane at the end of a 300-mile drive home from Cornwall at the weekend.

And yet it is two years since government ministers asked for the length of roadworks on motorways and A-roads in England to be shortened to reduce drivers' frustrations.

Contractors were asked to limit lane closures, with one recommendation suggesting roadworks should be between two miles and a maximum of five miles long.

As reported by the BBC, A DfT spokesman said two years ago: "Our road investment strategy will deliver the biggest upgrade to Britain's roads in a generation and secure our transport network for the long-term.

"But as it is delivered we've got to respect the drivers who use our roads every day.

"That means taking common sense decisions to minimise frustrations wherever possible."

Sorry, but after crawling through more than 18 miles of narrow lanes, hold-ups and near misses on Sunday, I can't see a lot of respect for drivers or anything to ease my frustration.

And the words of a Highways England spokesman also rang a little hollow when he said: "We want to provide a better, safer experience for road users on England's motorways and major A roads, including throughout roadworks where major upgrades are being carried out.

"We are committed to minimising disruption from roadworks even further and are exploring managing work in different ways while ensuring good value for money for the public."

Fine words not really matched by effective action and still the drivers of Warrington continue to suffer.

She says the council is setting a bad example by buying Birchwood Park in a £200 million deal but is doing it 'offshore' to gain a £10 million tax saving.

The Warrington Guardian reported Ms Jones as saying: "What concerns me even more is that this deal is being done through an offshore company to avoid around £10 million in tax.

"This is not illegal but it is, in my view, morally questionable.

"What is more, it is contrary to Labour Party policy.

"Our policy is to clamp down on tax havens and to root out tax avoidance.

"As the Shadow Chancellor has said: 'tax avoidance is a scourge on society.'

"For a tax-collecting authority to take this course is very unwise."

She may have a point but on a purely practical note, if there is nothing illegal in the transaction I struggle to see what the issue is here.

It would be a different matter if the council is was breaking the law but apparently it is not.

One needs to be very, very careful when taking the moral high ground.

These things have a tendency to come back and bite you.