Labour rejects our Infrastructure Master Plan proposal

Labour Councillors turned down a Liberal Democrat proposal for an Infrastructure Master Plan at the Council meeting on 14^th April.

As we move forward towards a Combined Authority with the two Cheshire Councils, it is important that we have a fully thought through and costed Master Plan for delivering our infrastructure needs. We need this in place so we can respond quickly to any funding proposals that arise. If we are not fully prepared, we could lose out to the two other Councils.

We have an approved Local Plan and a Local Transport Plan, but the transport plan has too many loose ends. We need to build our economy and communities for the future, but to do this we need both the physical and social infrastructure to enable our residents to move easily and quickly around the town. We are well placed for motorways and proposals for improving rail systems, but moving around town is a different story. We do not have a satisfactory strategy for addressing the extra traffic that will come from South Warrington, Fiddlers Ferry and Peel Hall.

In Grappenhall and neighbouring wards in the south of Warrington there are many pinch points that are not being fully addressed such as Lumb Brook Road, Ackers Road, the Swing Bridges and the Cantilever Bridge. The Western Link is stalled and discussions over a new Ship Canal Crossing deferred.

Mark Browne, who seconded the motion, adds: Over the last twelve months, we have been having extensive discussions with Homes England about the South East Warrington Urban Extension and their ideas for infrastructure. Car dependency, traffic congestion, air quality impacts and the management of our waterways have been identified as key challenges. But we cannot rely just on Homes England’s Master Plan because this will not cover the wider area of South Warrington.

Although the motion didn’t pass, we are pleased that our concerns are going to be taken seriously. We have had offers of further discussion and involvement with senior officers in taking these important developments and decisions forward.