Halton Borough Council has revealed that all eligible residents within the North West England borough will receive up to 300 free journeys per year when the new Mersey Gateway Bridge between Runcorn and Widnes and the current Silver Jubilee Bridge become tolled in 2017.
The scheme, expected to revitalise an area hit hard by the ongoing tough European economic climate, was approved at a full Halton Borough Council meeting last night (11 December 2013).
Halton Borough Council has revealed that all eligible residents within the North West England borough will receive up to 300 free journeys per year when the new 6126 Mersey Gateway Bridge between Runcorn and Widnes and the current Silver Jubilee Bridge become tolled in 2017.
The scheme, expected to revitalise an area hit hard by the ongoing tough European economic climate, was approved at a full Halton Borough Council meeting last night (11 December 2013).
A new six-lane toll bridge over the River Mersey will be the centrepiece of the Mersey Gateway Bridge. The project, including the start of tolling on the Silver Jubilee Bridge, will generate 470 permanent full-time equivalent jobs on site during construction, 4,640 permanent direct and indirect jobs, quicker journey times by up to 10 minutes in peak periods, and an improvement in journey time reliability.
Councillor Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Council said, “We have lobbied hard for no tolls on the new bridge and on the Silver Jubilee Bridge, but the Government are clear – no tolls, no bridge – and we all know a new bridge is desperately needed. We must now all accept, however painful, that tolls on Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge are a given and get on with the building phase without further delay and uncertainty.
“However, as we committed from the outset, we have spent many months looking for the best local user discount scheme we can get for Halton residents.
“The discount scheme has to be affordable from within the project and comply with the legal powers in the Tolling Orders approved by the Inspector at the Planning Inquiry, and Government have also limited Halton when it comes to the amount we can spend on discounts.
“However, the Mersey Gateway procurement process has delivered savings and I am pleased to report the Council has agreed to use these savings to give Halton residents a better discount scheme than we could have given under the Government’s tight financial restrictions.
“I hope this demonstrates the commitment of the Council to reducing the burden of tolling on Halton’s residents.
“We will continue to press the Government to maximise the re-investment of any extra toll income to ensure that Halton residents get the best deal possible.”
In June this year Merseylink was announced as the preferred bidder for the US$3.12 billion (£2bn) Mersey Gateway Project.
The scheme, expected to revitalise an area hit hard by the ongoing tough European economic climate, was approved at a full Halton Borough Council meeting last night (11 December 2013).
A new six-lane toll bridge over the River Mersey will be the centrepiece of the Mersey Gateway Bridge. The project, including the start of tolling on the Silver Jubilee Bridge, will generate 470 permanent full-time equivalent jobs on site during construction, 4,640 permanent direct and indirect jobs, quicker journey times by up to 10 minutes in peak periods, and an improvement in journey time reliability.
Councillor Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Council said, “We have lobbied hard for no tolls on the new bridge and on the Silver Jubilee Bridge, but the Government are clear – no tolls, no bridge – and we all know a new bridge is desperately needed. We must now all accept, however painful, that tolls on Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge are a given and get on with the building phase without further delay and uncertainty.
“However, as we committed from the outset, we have spent many months looking for the best local user discount scheme we can get for Halton residents.
“The discount scheme has to be affordable from within the project and comply with the legal powers in the Tolling Orders approved by the Inspector at the Planning Inquiry, and Government have also limited Halton when it comes to the amount we can spend on discounts.
“However, the Mersey Gateway procurement process has delivered savings and I am pleased to report the Council has agreed to use these savings to give Halton residents a better discount scheme than we could have given under the Government’s tight financial restrictions.
“I hope this demonstrates the commitment of the Council to reducing the burden of tolling on Halton’s residents.
“We will continue to press the Government to maximise the re-investment of any extra toll income to ensure that Halton residents get the best deal possible.”
In June this year Merseylink was announced as the preferred bidder for the US$3.12 billion (£2bn) Mersey Gateway Project.
