Runcorn toll bridge bridge plan demolished?

Runcorn Bridge - to stay toll free?

Plans build a new toll bridge across the River Mersey at Runcorn appear to have been demolished after the new Tory government ordered a freeze on spending.

Backers of the scheme expressed dismay at the decision to withdraw government cash and claimed they would fight on to try to get the £431m bridge off the ground.

Mersey Gateway was to be jointly-funded by central Government and the private sector, through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

But Transport Secretary Phil Hammond said the scheme was being put on hold indefinitely unless "alternative funding" can be found. Without government backing the scheme looks like a dead duck.

Anti-toll campaigners were jubilant and said that an alternative, cheaper scheme should now be developed to ease traffic congestion at Runcorn.

The National Alliance Against Tolls spokesman John McGoldrick said: "Millions of drivers who use the Runcorn Bridge will be relieved that this scheme has been demolished.

"It means that they are not going to face a toll of around £2.50 in each direction.

"Tolls on roads and crossings are unpopular wherever they are imposed and there are many reasons why the tolled Mersey Gateway plan should be scrapped.

"The Department of Transport and the local authority must now re-think the idea and come-up with design for a much shorter bridge in order to relieve congestion.

"The Mersey Gateway scheme - even with two toll bridges at Runcorn - was expected to carry less traffic than the single toll-free one.

"That was a crazy proposal and one that would have seriously harmed the economy of the region.

"The government should seize this opportunity to benefit motorists and boost the economy of the region by abolishing tolls on the Mersey Tunnels.

"Those tunnels are underused during the day and could carry a lot of traffic that currently favours Runcorn because it is a non-tolled crossing."

Mersey Gateway was due to be built by 2015 with the one way tolls for cars costing around £2-50p and HGVs paying as much as £10 each way.

The results of a public enquiry held by Mr Alan Gray at the Stobart Stadium last year are now unlikely to be published until after the CSR.

Secretary of State for Transport Mr Philip Hammond said: "The Government has made clear its most urgent priority is to tackle the UK's record budget deficit, in order to restore confidence in the economy and support the recovery.

"The Department for Transport will play a full part in the spending review which will be reporting in the autumn."

In relation to the Mersey Gateway Scheme Mr Hammond said: "I'm minded to postpone the decision on the scheme orders unless the promoters can demonstrate that alternative funding sources exist.

"At least until the conclusion of the spending review, the Department can give no assurances on its intention to fund any schemes that were awarded Programme Entry by the previous Government."

Steve Nicholson, Mersey Gateway Project Director, said: "We're naturally disappointed at the news that any announcement on whether the Mersey Gateway will be given the go ahead has been deferred pending the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review in the Autumn.

"It had always been our expectation that future decisions on major projects would be subject to the outcome of the CSR.

"The granting of planning approval is naturally linked to the scheme being affordable and it therefore makes sense to confirm the funding decision before dealing with the formal planning approval."

"We believe that the funding model we have in place offers exceptional value for money at a time when projects of all kinds are coming under increased scrutiny.

"Although we are delayed we remain confident that Mersey Gateway will be receive government support in the autumn and we can go on to deliver this vitally important project for Halton and the wider north west region."

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