THE councillor responsible for transport in Warrington insists the Western Link will deliver relief from the town’s historical congestion misery.

The Labour-run council’s cabinet was provided with an update on the draft local transport plan, LTP4, at its meeting on Monday.

The authority has a statutory duty to develop and maintain a local transport plan.

The current one was approved in March 2011 but is now in need of an update.

In his report, Cllr Hans Mundry, cabinet member for highways, transportation and public realm, said more roads must be built to tackle congestion in the borough.

But he told members that he believes the proposed Western Link will provide some relief.

In April, the Government confirmed it will put £142.5 million towards the Western Link scheme, with the council planning to contribute £70.2 million.

The highway would connect the A56 Chester Road with the A57 Sankey Way in Great Sankey.

Town Hall chiefs expect to be in a position to submit the final business case to the Department for Transport in autumn 2022.

Cllr Mundry said: “Obviously we have got some congestion in the town, historical issues in Warrington which we have to try and put right.

“But the way the car population is growing, the chances are we are going to have to look at other options.

“I think we have got to try to encourage people to use public transport, walking and cycling.”

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said the transport document shows ‘a lot of vision and ambition’.

He added: “Obviously, LTP4, does sit alongside the local plan when that comes forward, those two things are interwoven in terms of infrastructure and also the ambition for our town.”