George Osborne approves Mersey Gateway
Merseyside's economy has been given a massive boost today with the news that the chancellor George Osborne has approved the Mersey Gateway.
The second river crossing is a vital piece of infrastructure investment if the region's economy is going to be able to compete.
The area around Runcorn and Widnes is already a logistics centre (home of Stobarts Transport to mention just one). But the new bridge is vital to it remaining competitive. The bridge will also help the expansion of the Port of Liverpool.
Cutting it would have been unthinkable, just ask anyone who has been stuck in traffic when the Silver Jubilee bridge is closed.
Clearly the government understands the need for big infrastructure investments.
Champagne corks may be popping at Halton council on Wednesday when the decision is officially announced as part of the spending review, but public sector workers across the region are likely to be drowning their sorrows when we get the detail of the cuts.
Paying for big projects is not cheap, so cuts may be deeper in other areas to help fund schemes like the Mersey Gateway.
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David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
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Amazing! probably the most positive and significant bit of news for Liverpool since announcement of Cof C and not a squeak for a comment?
Initiatives like this bridge will help the city stand on its own two feet and deliver jobs and prosperity for all and instead all we get from our elected members is squabbling about Councillor Hanratty's love life and what job they have got.
No wonder the place is a basket case!
What are you asking here? Do you Tory Boys expect a round of applause every time you don't wreck the economy with ideologically motivated spending cuts? This bridge was planned by the last Government. All the Tory Osborne has done is to continue the process
Ronnie
Without the essential cuts tomorrow (to keep the lights on in the UK after New Labour's mess), what economy would that be then? A planned soviet style one with the government doing everything for us (and quite a lot for their loyal party workers as well)? or one where resources are allocated towards their optimum return (rather than a return based on backscratching and little extra luxuries)?
This project gives a proper return on the investment for all people on Merseyside not just cronies so Tory boys get a big gold star from me!
You should just stick to worrying about your colleague's love lives next expenses claim!
I lived and worked in Liverpool when Thatcher was in power. I moved from Plymouth because Liverpool was seemingly so vibrant and full of energy, something that has never changed. I watched it suffer the humiliation of having to sell the "silver", the trick picture in the Daily Mail of rubbish piled up on the Birkenhead side of the river making the 3 graces look like they were standing in it and the destruction of its commercial sector as business's fled up the M62. You know, it broke my heart that confrontation just for confrontations sake was destroying my adopted City. By the way, could someone please remind me where Mr Hatton now lives, isn't it somewhere in leafy Surrey?
The point is, it appears that this coalition government seems to be doing its best to ensure a fair wedge for everyone, including the Liverpool City Region & Merseyside. The Bridge scheme was mooted by the last government BUT could so easily have been postponed, lest we forget, the money has all gone no big credit card to keep the wheels moving just good old simple economics. Trust me, as someone who follows the fortune of this great City and who fights its corner, this is great news. Lets see some positive stuff on here, we don't have to like the con-dems but be fair and equal and lets try to recognise the good things that could come on the back of this.