NOW the election fever has died down and you can pick up a copy of the Warrington Guardian without fear of a Government minister popping up and grovelling for your vote, I wonder if it is time to reflect.

The tolls over the new bridge seemed to be the biggest issue on a local level.

But why?

How many people in this town travel across the Runcorn and Widnes bridge on a regular basis?

Ten per cent maybe, and I think that is being incredibly generous.

So why on earth should the crossing be made free for Warrington residents?

Surely the bridges would have to be free for everyone in order to tackle the potential problems of motorists avoiding that area altogether and redirecting their Sat Navs to Warrington town centre?

As that is never going to be the case it seems ridiculous that we are now facing the cost of a Tory toll promise.

Nobody seems to be taking responsibility but it seems highly unlikely that the Government will fund it.

So it will now come back on Warrington council taxpayers.

So why should we all be forced to pay for a few crossing for a small minority of the population.

Some £4million a year has been agreed in Halton to pay for these trips.

What else could that £4million pay for in Warrington?

Or more to the point, what will have to be cut to find this money?

Which community centre will close, which tip, which bin round?

So now the election is over, I think it is time for all politicians of all sides to reflect on the costs their promises will have on us all in the long term.

Because of course only half of us live in a constituency which the politicians are bothered about anyway.

PAM BAKER

Burtonwood