WARRINGTON Borough Council will submit an objection over controversial plans to increase the charges on Warburton Toll Bridge near Lymm.

The issue was discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the council at the new council offices in Time Square this evening, Monday.

Members voted to approve the submission of a formal objection to the proposed Rixton and Warburton Bridge Order following the application by The Manchester Ship Canal Company (MSCC) Ltd, which is owned by Peel Ports.

Labour’s Cllr Hans Mundry, cabinet member for transportation, highways and public realm, labelled the proposal to increase the toll from 12p to £1 as a ‘massive increase’ and warned resident will ‘pick up the impact’ of it.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden, Labour, told members he wrote a ‘very strongly worded’ objection to Peel over its proposals in August, as part of the consultation, but expressed his disappointment that ‘none of that has been taken on board’ by the firm for their plans put forward.

Cllr Graham Gowland, Liberal Democrat, also shared his views during the meeting.

He said: “I think we’re all united in opposing the toll order.”

Cllr Gowland labelled the planned toll increases as unreasonable and disproportionate.

Cllr Kath Buckley, Conservative, said the Tories would like the toll to be removed ‘if at all possible’, adding ‘it is lovely to see everybody working so well together’.

Furthermore, Cllr Mundry said the Conservative secretary of state can ‘put all this to bed straight away with one stroke of the pen’ by giving control to councils and the powers to deal with these issues.

The MSCC has submitted an application for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992.

This order proposes new procedures for the operation of the bridge, including new tolls, concessions, byelaws and collection arrangements.

A draft council response to the order has been prepared which raises a number of objections to the proposed changes.

The final response must be submitted by the deadline tomorrow.

As a 'statutory objector', Warrington Borough Council may require to have its objections heard at a public inquiry or before a person appointed by the secretary of state for transport.

The secretary of state must decide, within 28 days of the end of the objection period, whether to hold a public inquiry or a hearing, or whether to carry out ‘exchanges of written representations’ between everyone involved.

Peel Ports has proposed a strategy to upgrade the bridge, toll collection method and approach roads.

It includes the installation of a free-flow tolling system, removing the need for toll booth collection and reducing delays.

It also includes the funding of a major capital investment programme to reverse the physical decline of the Warburton Toll Bridge and upgrading the approach roads to both sides of the bridge, covering both road surfaces and footpaths.

However, in order to fund these improvements it has also proposed to raise the cost of the toll payable per bridge crossing from the current 12p to up to £1 per crossing.

Cllr Wendy Maisey OBE, Conservative, spoke about the ‘double whammy’ faced by constituents in her ward of Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft.  

She is concerned over not only the ward being left out of the 50 per cent concession for the bridge toll, but also as it lies on the boundary of Greater Manchester many residents and businesses now face the Greater Manchester clean air emissions charge.

She believes this will have a ‘huge financial impact’ on day-to-day life.

A spokesperson for the Manchester Ship Canal Company said: “All representations submitted, including the objection from Warrington Borough Council, will be assessed as part of the formal TWAO process being followed and the final decision rests with the Secretary of State for Transport.”

“The feedback we have received following our recent non-statutory consultation shows that upgrades to modernise the facilities, maintain the bridge and reduce travel times are needed and very much welcomed.”

“The toll is the best way to fund these much-needed improvements and the current 12p fee has not changed since 1863, and which had to incorporate the introduction of a VAT liability. Users of the bridge deserve facilities fit for the 21st Century which will ultimately ease congestion, reduce tailbacks and improve the general flow of traffic in the area.

“The current toll is one of the lowest in England and will not fund the capital investment needed to support the maintenance and modernising of the facilities motorists are in favour of.”