Western Link is too important to get wrong says council leader

LAST week Cabinet approved the next phase in the delivery of the Western Link.

The Western Link is a new highway that will connect the A56 Chester Road to A57 Sankey Way.

The road will reduce congestion and traffic flow in the town centre by providing Warrington with a different route that avoids the congestion around Bridge Foot and Brian Bevan island.

What we approved this week was the offer for the scheme to be moved into the Department for Transport’s Large Local Major Scheme Programme, which means we can now begin pre-construction.

This pre-construction work will culminate in the submission of our final business case, which we need to secure the funding we need from government to start the works.

There is a huge amount that we need to do in order to get our final business case submitted, but I’d like to thank officers for their tireless work so far.

And, as part of this detailed pre-construction work, we’ll continue to listen to residents and their views.

The plans for the Western Link are too important not to get right.

Elsewhere in the town centre, I’m pleased to see the progress being made on Time Square.

This flagship project will ensure we have a vibrant, confident town centre that offers a welcoming, family-friendly environment where there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

It’s a great opportunity to reshape Warrington with an offer that residents deserve.

A short hop from the heart of Warrington and you find the jewel in our crown – Walton Hall and Gardens.

It’s great news that it has recently received the coveted Visit England tourism award 2019/20. This award demonstrates that the hard work to develop Walton Hall and Garden’s facilities is paying off.

I’m proud of the steps we have taken in shaping Warrington as a place for people to live, work and visit.

With our continued commitment to make improvements that will ensure future generations can thrive in our town, I know Warrington has a very bright future.