It was disappointing to read that the borough council is to considering road congestion charges.

When I came to live in Great Sankey 33 years ago it was clear then that a Bridge Foot bypass was desperately needed. Residents often talked about the need for a new traffic route between Penketh and Chester Road to ease traffic flows and take the load off the town centre. An opportunity was missed a few years ago when a new road bridge was constructed at Gateworth Tip, since this could have formed the basis of a bypass route from Penketh to Chester Road. Sadly the town planners or traffic managers did not see the potential for such a bypass.

Regrettably, due to lack of vision, the borough council chose to ignore the worsening traffic congestion problems and waste good money on such schemes as the shifting and reconstruction of The Academy at Bridge Foot, the Bridge Street River of Life and the modern sculptures at Market Gate. Lack of action and forward thinking has therefore exacerbated the traffic congestion problem.

Congestion fees for driving into Warrington will be seen by the public as just another revenue-raising opportunity in a town where current car parking charges are greater than many adjacent towns.

I believe that the idea of congestion fees is ill-conceived and will be seen to be counterproductive since shoppers will merely change their routine and shop at Widnes, St Helens, Wigan and elsewhere, resulting in a downturn of trade for the town. The current traffic restrictions and car parking problems associated with the development work in Golborne Street are already having a major impact on town centre businesses and clearly demonstrate what will happen if congestion fees are introduced. Most families have cars and wish to use them without being taxed further. I believe that the council should think big; that our MPs should lobby for Government funding for a Bridge Foot bypass and the town should be made "car-friendly" to encourage town centre trade.

JOHN MAGUIRE

Tilman Close, Great Sankey