THE minister who made the announcement that two new bridges had been promised to Warrington has told the Warrington Guardian the schemes will ‘certainly’ happen under a Conservative Government.

Greg Clark, minister of state for universities, science and cities, pictured above at Omega, confirmed money is in place for two bridges.

The first, from Slutchers Lane to Chester Road, is due to start next year. The second, a high-level crossing over the Manchester Ship Canal, could be complete within a decade.

Mr Clark said: “David Mowat and the council have been lobbying consistently and made a very persistent case for these to accommodate the growth in the area.

“Warrington has been a very successful town. It is one of the towns with the rate of growth and the jobs we need.

“We have always felt it was the right thing to do to reinvest in that success.”

And he said that funding has been agreed and confirmed in the regional growth fund and is in place.

He added: “The first bridge starts next year and that is an important one. And part of that first growth deal releases funds for the high-level bridge.

“We have looked into this and it is all completely on track. We expect to proceed with the construction as planned.

“The nature of these deals is that we invest in the area that needs it, attract more business and that feeds back so the funding from the first growth deal (in July which gave the green light for the first bridge) finances this one. We are absolutely clear.”

And he said it could change if a different Government is in power.

“Clearly in the future, any Government can choose what they want to do. You can be absolutely certain a Conservative-led Government would absolutely pursue this.”

Mr Mowat said: “The people of Warrington are entitled to expect their elected representatives to work together for the benefit of the town. I will continue to do this, as I have done for the past four years.

“The first bridge (the Bridge Foot bypass) was announced last July by the Government and work will start in around a year from now. If it does not, the council will lose the money that has been allocated. The second bridge was announced in parliament two weeks ago and construction will start in 2019, although I am hoping that it can be brought forward to 2018 and I am working to make this happen.”