Warburtons Bridge, Toll Levels Inquiry

Transport And Works Act 1992

Transport And Works (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 2004 ("The Rules")
The Rixton And Warburton Bridge Order

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN on behalf of The Manchester Ship Canal Company Limited ("MSCC"), and in accordance with Rules 13(6)(c) and (9) of the Rules, that Mr Mike Robins MSc, BSc(Hons) MRTPI, a Chartered Town Planner and Principal Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, will be holding a Public Local Inquiry at The Village Hotel Warrington, 110 Central Park Square, Warrington WA11QA into objections to the application made by MSCC under section 6 of the Transport and Works Act 1992, for the making of an Order under section 3 of that Act entitled The Rixton and Warburton Bridge Order ("the Order"). The Inquiry will commence at 10:00 on Tuesday 8 November 2022. Five days have been provisionally reserved (8-11 November 2022 and 15 November 2022), but additional days have been reserved as follows?

* If the substantive submission of evidence is completed within the 5 days, closing statements from the main parties will be presented virtually on Friday 18 November 2022.

* If further Inquiry days are required for the submission of evidence, then the Inquiry will adjourn until 28 November, allowing the 28 November and the 29 November (if required) for completion of evidence and the closing statements. This will be held in person at the above venue.

The Inquiry will open at 10:00 on the first day, but may open at 09:30 on subsequent days. When the Inquiry resumes for week 2, the Inquiry will open at 10:00 on Tuesday 15 November 2022. There will be breaks during the day ana the aim is to finish around 17:00 each day. Exceptionally, facilities can be made available if any party can only attend virtually. The Inspector is conscious of the fact that there are a wide range of local people who have concerns about the toll revisions who may want to express their concerns regarding the Order.

An evening session will be held at 18:30 on Wednesday 9 November 2022 at the venue. If it is your wish to attend this session you should inform the Programme Officer. The purpose of the Order, if made, is to update and modernise provisions of the existing legislation in respect of the Rixton andWarburton Bridge, in particular to revise the tolls which MSCC may charge for use of the Rixton and Warburton Bridge and supersedes the toll levels set out in the Rixton and Warburton Bridge Act 1863.

The Order also contains provisions for MSCC to make new byelaws in relation to the good management and use of the Rixton and Warburton Bridge in order to safeguard the navigation of the Manchester Ship Canal.
In addition the Order contains provisions for MSCC to transfer the Rixton and Warburton Bridge Undertaking to the Rixton and Warburton Bridge Company Limited (Company Registration No. 13617881), should MSCC so resolve.
The Inspector held a Pre-lnquiry Meeting ("the PIM") on Monday 12 September 2022 to discuss procedural matters relating to the Inquiry. Notes of the PIM maybe found on the Inquiry website at:

Post-PlM-CMC-Note-1.pdf Attendance at the Inquiry
Anyone wishing to attend the Inquiry, or the evening session, will need to make their interest known to the Programme Officer, Helen Wilson, as soon as possible prior to the Inquiry, either by email or telephone. Her contact details are as follows:

Helen Wilson - Programme Officer
0151 352 3863 or 07879 443035
Email:

Documents relating to the application can be viewed at:

BDB Pitmans LLP
One Bartholomew Close London EC1A 7BL
Solicitors and Parliamentary Agents acting for MSCC 20 October 2022