Jo Crotty gets Council to say 'No to tolls' on Mersey bridge

7.09.45pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th Sep 2008

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Councillor Jo Crotty has had her motion asking the Labour Government to fund a new bridge over the Mersey at Halton passed unanimously by the council. Government funding for the bridge would eliminate the need for a toll on the new crossing which would increase traffic on already congested Warrington streets.

Speaking after the council meeting Jo Crotty said, "I am pleased that Warrington's council has sent out a strong message that we are tired of being ignored by the Labour Government."

"The Government has found the money to redevelop the whole east end of London for the Olympics, they have found the money to bail out Humberside and effectively subsidise their bridge, and they have found the money to remove tolls on five bridges in Scotland. Yet here we are in the North West facing the prospect of building a toll bridge through private investment that will actually make traffic problems in Warrington worse."

Studies have shown that traffic in Warrington could be increased by as much as 9% if the maximum toll of £2.50 is charged on the new bridge. Jo Crotty and the Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for the Government to fund the bridge since news broke of the increased traffic a toll would cause. You can sign their petition against the toll by visiting www.jocrotty.org.uk or www.warringtonlibdems.org.uk .

In comments she also made as part of the debate over the motion Councillor Crotty said, "Why have Labour's 56 MPs in the North West failed to convince their Government to fund a bridge across the Mersey in the same way their colleagues did in London, Scotland and Humberside? If these Labour MPs are so poor at representing us then it is time that some of them were replaced! Unlike Labour the Liberal Democrats are sticking up for Warrington and putting our town first."