HALTON'S Conservative leader Carl Cross has blasted the Government's decision to delay its decision on a second bridge across the Mersey.

He went on to criticise Derek Twigg's decision to cling to his title of junior transport minister.

Mr Cross says the borough's Labour MP is putting his own career ambitions ahead of concerns within his constituency.

'The decision on the bridge is obviously extremely disappointing,' he said.

'The Government has left us in a state of limbo.'

Mr Cross has echoed the fears of council leader Tony McDermott that the project appears to be fading .

Fears are growing that too many projects are being lost within the North West compared to a growing list of secured investments such as the Olympic bid in the South East of the country.

Mr Cross said: 'All too often we do tend to see a South East bias.'

In the same week that it was announced the decision on the new bridge would not be made until January 2006, the region was dealt a

further blow with the threatened collapse of Liverpool's Merseytram project.

Merseytravel chairman Mark Dowd sent an ultimatum to the five district councils, demanding they back the tram or abort the project.

The Government made a shock decision in June to limit its support of Merseytram to £170m.

Mr Cross said: 'The incredible difficulty is the cost to get the scheme under way.

'The Government has got a lot to answer for if they're not prepared to do it. I'd urge those campaigning not to lose heart.

In response to accusations Mr Twigg's ambitions as junior transport minister have left him 'muzzled' by the Government, Mr Cross agrees.

He said: 'There are a number of conspiracy theorists who are questioning why Derek Twigg was put in the position of junior transport minister.

'I know I would have known what the constraints of the post would be.'