A POLITICIAN hopes a £212.7 million bypass will end the ‘suffering’ faced by Warrington’s motorists.

The Western Link is planned to connect the A56 Chester Road with the A57 Sankey Way in Great Sankey.

The Government confirmed it will put £142.5 million towards the controversial scheme in April, with the Labour-run council planning to contribute £70.2 million.

The boost from Westminster was hailed by Andy Carter, Tory Warrington South parliamentary candidate.

However, he insists he acknowledges fears over the loss of green belt and green space as a result of the project.

Mr Carter said: “Whenever you take decisions to invest in infrastructure, there are always consequences of doing that.

“My primary concern is to see investment into infrastructure in Warrington.

Warrington Guardian:

Andy Carter

“We have suffered over many years because the investment was expected when New Town status was granted, but it didn’t follow through in the way that it should have done.”

Mr Carter also labelled driving through the borough as ‘really difficult’.

“But, at the same time, I recognise people that are living in the pathway of any road that is going to be built will have very strong views about it,” he said.

Council chiefs expect to be in a position to submit the final Western Link business case to the Department for Transport in autumn 2022, with construction planned to start in 2023 and the road to open to traffic in spring 2026.

Mr Carter added: “The council have been through a number of consultations and looked at a number of options and they have put this forward.

“From that perspective, the route it takes is not necessarily a decision that I have been involved in.

“But my willingness to see investment from central Government in Warrington to solve our congestion issues is something that I would say is primary for me.

“The final route, there is obviously still some discussion that will take place around that.

“I don’t want us to lose the money that has been earmarked for Warrington to try and solve some of the congestion problems that we have got.”

Along with requiring a high-level bridge across the Manchester Ship Canal, any new link road would also need to travel over the Mersey and the West Coast Main Line.