Controversial plans for the world’s largest tidal barrier in the Mersey have taken a leap forward, but one Halton councillor says more information is needed regarding its possible impact.

The barrage would be a dam-like structure constructed between Wirral and Liverpool to provide energy for hundreds of thousands of homes for the next 120 years, with the possibility of cycling and walking routes being established to allow people to cross it.

But fears have been raised by some local environmental groups over the possible impact on wildlife in the Mersey Estuary.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region (LCR) – of which Halton ins one of six member councils - recently announced the first public consultation on the scheme and revealed it has now entered the formal planning process.

He said: "This is one of the most challenging schemes to deliver due to the environmental, ecological and economic considerations, but it’s potential to generate clean, green and predictable energy would be worth all the effort we are putting into this planning stage."

Halton Cllr Bill Woolfall has previously sat on scrutiny committees at the LCR where over a number of years viewed various presentations on the scheme. He has previously raised concerns around the need more details and has again echoed his previous comments.

He told the LDRS: “There is no doubt that the Metro Mayor is confident that this scheme will deliver cleaner power to the region, but I am not sure what the consequences it would be upstream of the river. I am not opposed to this scheme, we just need to know more. Although it has been tried in other parts of the world, it has proved to be very expensive."

He added: “I really would like to have the same confidence as Steve as it would be a wonderful way of delivering power."

A six-week public consultation begins on October 1 where local people and organisations can comment. Starting next week, households in areas closest to the proposed project will receive invitations to public consultation events, with 10 planned across the city region - including at Runcorn’s Masonic Hall on York Street on Saturday, November 9, from 10am-4pm.

The consultation will also feature a dedicated website www.merseytidal.co.uk which will host information and online survey. Feedback from the consultation will help develop project proposals and will be considered alongside ongoing engineering design and environmental assessment work.