Environment Agency withdraws objection to Mersey Gateway bridge

Both the Environment Agency and Natural England have withdrawn objections to the Gateway project, they confirmed to the inspector holding the public inquiry yesterday.

Leader of Halton Borough Council and Chair of the Mersey Gateway Executive Board Cllr Tony McDermott, said: “We’re very pleased with this news. We’ve been working closely with both the Environment Agency and Natural England to ensure that they are satisfied with our plans.

“Our proposals include some major environmental and other benefits for Halton and the surrounding area, and its good to know this has been recognised in this way,” he said.

The project team have already promised a 28.5 ha saltmarch nature reserve to be created in the around the proposed Mersey Gateway bridge.

The Mersey Gateway Project team has also rejected an proposal to toll the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge rather than build the Mersey Gateway Bridge..

Project Director Steve Nicholson said: “We have continually considered the potential alternatives to building a new bridge and this has included looking the option of just tolling the Silver Jubilee Bridge. We completely reject this idea.” 

“Tolling the Silver Jubilee Bridge on its own simply isn’t a viable option. It wouldn’t deliver the regeneration benefits for Halton or reinstate the transport connections the region needs as a matter of urgency. Drivers would still pay but wouldn’t see the benefits that a new bridge can bring to Halton and the wider region,” he said.

A consultation by Halton Borough Council established that people and businesses would rather see a new bridge developed with tolls than not building a new bridge at all.

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