THIS is what Peel had to say about the toll booth on Warburton Bridge closing for three months.

After a ‘routine engineering inspection’, there will now be single-lane traffic and no toll charges on the bridge.

That is expected to be in place for three months.

The bridge is said to remain ‘fully safe and operational’ and staff will return when the investigations are completed.

A spokesperson for the Manchester Ship Canal said: “Following a routine engineering inspection, we plan to install temporary traffic lights and single-lane traffic, and have removed all toll charges on Warburton Toll Bridge. The bridge remains fully operational and safe, although the toll booth and staff are not needed whilst a single lane is enforced. We expect this to take up to three months.

“Discussions regarding the ongoing maintenance and repair of Warburton Toll Bridge continue and plans are currently under review, submitted as part of the Transport and Works Acts Order.”

It comes as The Manchester Ship Canal Company, which owns and operates the bridge, published details of £6.5million worth of upgrades to the approach roads, footpaths and tolling system involving the price of the toll changing from 12p to £1.

Andy Openshaw, a member of the Warburton Toll Bridge Action Group said: “This disruption is frustrating - significant controls appear to have been implemented with no notice, at the same time as the closure of Cherry Lane, also a major route in and out of Lymm.

“Warrington residents are having to put up with poor or non-existent maintenance of Manchester Ship Canal infrastructure; Warburton Bridge is one of several key crossings of the ship canal that are deteriorating.

“The Manchester Ship Canal Company have been prevaricating over ‘urgent’ maintenance for over six years, trying to push financial responsibility for the maintenance of the Cantilever Bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal onto the public, via an increase to the toll that is payable to use the Rixton and Warburton Bridge and it’s approach roads.”

Councillor Graham Gowland, from Lymm, added: “The bridge was built by local people to benefit the community – the ‘new’ high-level bridge was built for the Ship Canal Company, and they have not maintained the bridge appropriately.

“We’re aware it’s had issues raised in its statutory inspections over the years, and the maintenance of the road surface is very poor. It’s great to hear that finally, the owners are going to inspect and hopefully make good the surface, but making the road ‘light controlled’ – effectively a single lane – for three months is really not satisfactory.

“It’s going to cause mayhem – especially if the Thelwall Viaduct becomes blocked. There’s also the matter of the toll order hearings – you must question the timing of the works.”