Mersey Gateway

[liverpoolman1]

The Airport is asking people to back the Widnes News campaign for the Mersey Gateway. I have already submitted my suggestions to the Enquiry Inspector. The main thrust of my submission is that the new bridge should be toll free as should the existing Widnes/Runcorn bridge. If the Mersey Gateway is tolled then the Mersey will be the longest river in the UK with tolls. From the Mersey mouth to the first toll free bridge at Warrington we will have every crossing tolls - tunnels and bridges. This will have a rrtarding effect on the local economy and long distance hauliers will avoid the Merseyside and either side of the river to avoid the toll charges.
Get behind the airport campaign but DEMAND THAT THE BRIDGE BE TOLL FREE.

[sfp]

I support the sentiments expressed above, however it must be remembered that recent progress was achieved through using the criteria set by the previous Government. The current Government will require the private sector financing which is only likely to be achieved with tolls.

We must have the bridge - without it there will be far greater problems than the cost of tolls!

One the greatest supporters even with a toll is the Stobart Group (formerly O'Connors) with their rail interchange adjacent to the Silver Jubilee bridge.

The Mersey Gateway is essential for the local economy and for smooth access to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The project website is: www2.halton.gov.uk/merseygateway/

The link for expressing support for the Widnes News Campaign is: www.backthebridge.com

[woody66]

It would be interesting to know what the current figure is for the number of local residents who use the bridge against the non resident users.

[Beemer]

...and for anyone who doesn't know, the panoramic photo at the bottom of my posts is where the Gateway bridge will go across the river. This side at Runcorn is just below the coolers at Fiddlers to the Widnes side between the chimney and the white tower at Thermphos to the right of the bridge.(approx).

[tonyspeke]

The Chancellor has just said on television that the Mersey Gateway will go ahead.

[harbourcotter]

Although not the Mersey Gateway, what could actually be more beneficial in terms of access to the airport is the proposed Mersey Barrage. Whilst at an early stage of feasibility studies, there is a possibility that if the southern end is used, (ie Garston to the Wirral) There is a possibility that there could be road access over the barrage. If so, it would provide a huge shortcut from the Wirral. And it could be completed within 10 years.

As Peel are again the main player, I think that they are aware of the possibilities, although it has not been linked anywhere to my knowledge.

I can envisage some early problems

1/ Labour/Conservative Policy for Manchester to be the 'Regional' capital and therefore all North West road/rail infrastructure to that end to have priority.

2/ A vocal minority of wirral residents who will oppose anything of this nature

3/ RSPB because it will impact on the Mersey flats.

Hopefully, the many benefits will outweigh the opposition.

It will provide renewable energy sources, UK based which must help, but any roadway across would I believe be more of a sticking point.

Potentially, if built, it could actually be more benefical to the airport than the Mersey Gateway. Therefore as much influence as possible must be brought to bear to provide road access across the top, but failing that, a light rail link.

[viscount]

I was under the impression that the Mersey barrage scheme, as put forward during the mid '80s (I think) while technically viable, would have been so costly there was no chance of recovering the investment - and as a result had been effectively shelved (by the late 90s ish I think). As far as I am aware, the current 'Mersey Gateway' scheme was promoted as the next viable crossing of the Mersey due to the roadway on the 'Barrage' crossing scheme being abandoned.

Or has the Barrage scheme been resurrected (without telling me) ?

[Ryanairflyer]

I believe it was mentioned in the recent government report on the Severn barrage scheme as a potentially possible scheme to go forward with, doubt this is in the near future though, suggested it would be cost effective in the long term though

[harbourcotter]

The Mersey Barrage Scheme has been resurrected and the initial public consultation phase has just begun (Full details are in todays Daily Post, although there has been some information released prior to today).

The Phases are -

Feasibility Study - Dec 2010-Feb2011
Preferred Option - Late 2011
Application for Consent - 2012

The website for further info is www.merseytidalpower.co.uk

[CloudWarrior]

There is no doubt the way forward is wind and tidal power generating systems.
The Severn tidal plan has been shelved.
I cant understand it, oil gas and and coal wont last forever; wind and certainly the tides will last until a meteor wipes us out, and yet successive governments will bow to Nimbys and conservationists, and say they cant afford it. How can we not afford to build 'clean' power stations?
I'd rather my childrens childrens etc live in a safe and clean world, rather than the lesser spotted thingymejig is saved from extinction.

[bluefox]

Of the windmills on Burbo Bank I believe the gear box has already seized on one of them. How cost effective are they?

[Biggles]

I live looking at this visual waste of taxpayers money, I have watched them from start to finish, I also see on a daily basis the times they work and more often the times they don`t even in periods of plentuful supplies of wind. There have been reports of these farms having a sort of concrete cancer which has caused some to start to sink into the sea bed, it was discovered not in Burbo Farm, but elsewhere, however I understand there was some evidence found in Burbo Farm. This picture I took is of the repair vessel which has spent weeks and weeks on station working day and night removing/ repairing and or replacing all the blades in each turbine. Considering it is alleged each turbine costs in the region of £1m and I can see in excess of 50 from my window, how cost effective are they ? taking into consideration that a lot of countries which invested heavily in this power source now say they made a huge financial mistake and that the outlay cost does not return the power in sufficient amounts to justify the initial outlay.



And a nice sunset apart from the Turbines.

[Ryanairflyer]

From what i understand Wind turbines have a extremly small operating window in terms of wind speed they can operate under thus provide a lot less gain in terms of investment than other renewable sources such as tidal and hydro just look at the Netherlands or Norway to see how that can work. And we wont use the Severn even though its the 2nd largest tidal movement in the world

[Biggles]

What worries me about all these Green Campaigners is that they seem not to be all that concerned about the massive costs of these so called renweable energy sources they support and force down other peoples throats, making out that the world is doomed if we fail to heed their warnings. Wind Turbines are NOT cost effective and they visually blight everywhere they are placed, now we are being forced to take up fields and fields of solar panels ? it used to be fields of RapeSeed that attracted payements now its glass mirrors. ?

[Deleted]

Notwithstanding the "Green" lobby, surely there is a more pragmatic reason for renewables? What is the alternative when fossil fuel reserves run dry? Nuclear maybe, but the safety record (3 Mile Island, Chernobyl) ain't too good!

GC