MOTORISTS are being asked to provide evidence of tailbacks on Winnington Bridge to support a campaign for a second bridge between Winnington and Barnton.

The call comes from Roger Morlidge, a member of Barnton Parish Council, which launched a petition to gain support for a debate over the bridge issue at Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The petition attracted thousands of signatures, and Cllr Morlidge spoke at a full council meeting about the problems he said the people of Barnton and the surrounding area had to contend with because of the single lane bridge over the River Weaver.

The parish council is seeking to keep up the pressure for a second bridge in view of the housing being built in Winnington, and Cllr Morlidge is awaiting the results of a Freedom of Information request about the weight limit on Winnington Bridge.

He is also seeking to put together a new speech on the bridge issue for the next time the parish council is invited to speak to a Cheshire West meeting.

“I need evidence to present to the council, so if anyone has examples of times when traffic on the bridge has caused them problems or, better still, photos of jams or inappropriate vehicles using it, I would be really grateful if you could let me know via the parish clerk,” he said.

“If anyone has the time, the one person, a champion of the ‘Northern Powerhouse,’ who is most likely to be able to help us out is our MP, George Osborne.

“A letter to him to keep the whole issue of the bridge alive and in his mind would be very useful.

“As an individual letter it’s easy to overlook, but if he starts to get a lot he will hopefully begin to get some idea of how we in this remote corner of his constituency are feeling.

“We are trying to make things happen – it’s hard work, but any help people can give would be really appreciated.”

The parish clerk can be emailed on barntonpc@gmail.com, and people can write to Mr Osborne at 1A Windsor Way, Knutsford.