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The company, which makes the X-Type at Halewood and is about to start manufacturing the Freelander, is the most productive in the whole of the Ford global empire, but like many companies situated in the area it is constrained by the poor road network.
David Crisp, Corporate Affairs Manager for Jaguar, explained: "By the end of this decade we – more... will be building the Freelander at Halewood and that will mean 80,000 more units and another 1,000 employees will be coming in and out of the plant.
"We have plans to expand the plant even further and that is why it is essential for this longer term expansion that we have a new crossing that can help us bring materials in and transport vehicles out.
"At present, the M6 is constantly under repair and there is no alternative north-south route. A second river crossing over the Mersey is the only answer."
Another firm to throw its considerable weight behind the new Mersey crossing campaign is ABB Limited, a world-leading provider of power and automation technologies.
Trevor Gregory, County Manager & Managing Director of ABB, said: " The clients I deal with around the world have expressed concern about the region's ability to move goods and people around.
"There is lots of potential for growth and investment but we need to make it much easier for people to pass through. At present the transport infrastructure is overwhelmed by the volume of traffic but if we can remove this barrier by building a new Mersey crossing then things would be very different."
The Mersey Partnership, which promotes Liverpool and Merseyside as an attractive place for investors and visitors, has also become a champion of the new Mersey crossing campaign.
Speaking at the breakfast briefing, which involved almost 100 people from the public and private sector, Tom O'Brien, Chief Executive of The Mersey Partnership, said: "The new Mersey crossing is important to everyone living in the North West and its significance goes well beyond Widnes and Runcorn.
"Our economy is growing at such a speed that it has outstripped the North West and the UK as a whole, but we all know it won't take much to curtail it. That is why it is absolutely critical, if the economy is to continue growing, that we also have the infrastructure to compete with other locations.
"That's why the second bridge will be such an important asset to Merseyside and beyond, and why we are right behind it."
And Roy Morris, Chairman of The Mersey Partnership, added: "Getting a new Mersey crossing is imperative because at present the exit out of Liverpool on the south side is not helping our prospects of expanding the economy.
"But we must get a move on. We will do everything in our power to ensure the new Mersey crossing becomes a reality sooner rather than later. And we trust the Government will do the same."
Tony McDermott, Leader of Halton Borough Council and Chairman of the Mersey Crossing Group, said: "The purpose of the breakfast briefing was to gather support for the new crossing by bringing together the private and public sector.
"The event was a huge success and it has demonstrated that everyone is united in one common goal - to ensure this crossing is built for the good of the region."
Following the decision by the Government in December 2003 to award the new Mersey crossing bid 'Super Work in Progress' status, detailed discussions took place earlier this year between the Department of Transport and the Mersey Crossing Group.
The Group agreed to carry out further studies in a number of areas, including environmental assessments, impact on the wider traffic network and, while the Group still supports an untolled crossing, the feasibility of tolling.
Results of these studies are expected to be submitted to the Government by September this year, with final approval hopefully being granted by the Department of Transport in December. – less – More from ZoomInfo »
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