Transport, training and a proposed new tidal barrage are just some of the issues Halton residents are set to vote on when they choose a new Metro Mayor.

The borough is one of six member councils of the Liverpool City Region (LCR) but holds the distinction of being the only one not in Merseyside. Other members are Liverpool, Wirral, St Helens, Knowsley and Sefton.

The vote to elect the LCR's new leader takes place on Thursday, May 2 and in Halton will happen alongside two other votes – one to elect local borough councillors in 18 Halton wards, and another for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire.

The metro mayor role was introduced in 2017 by the government in an effort to devolve more power to local authorities. They oversee decisions and budgets on issues including transport, education and skills for over 16s, infrastructure investment, aspects of regeneration and housing, employment support, culture, energy and environment.

There will be five candidates vying for votes this year in Halton. These are:

Tom Crone for the Green Party. He currently leads the Green group on Liverpool City Council. He said his priorities will include sustainable housing investment and a more connected approach to public transport.

Jade Marsden for the Conservatives.  Her priorities include transport investment and to reopen disused stations around Halton. She also wants to make it easier for companies to take on apprentices.

Rob McAllister-Bell for the Liberal Democrats. He is currently the party’s deputy leader on Liverpool City Council representing Mossley Hill. His policies include eradicating homelessness in the city region. He also wants the area to be more ‘business friendly’ and wants to see an e-ticketing system of ‘tap on and tap off’ to be introduced on public transport.

Steve Rotheram for The Labour Party. The former Liverpool Walton MP has been mayor of the Liverpool City Region since 2017 when the role was created. He said he wants to make the area ‘best place to grow up, grow old and grow a business in’. He wants to introduce better technical training and attract oversees investment as well as introduce a new tidal barrage.

Ian Smith as an independent candidate. Hailing from Bootle, he said he wants to stand because of what he said is a ‘disconnect’ between politicians and ordinary people. He wants to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, wants to modernise digital and transport infrastructure and to support young people in accessing training and education.

Some of the big issues which could impact Halton include the proposed Mersey tidal barrage, which at least one Halton councillor – Cllr Bill Woolfall -  has raised concerns over in the past over how it could impact the section of the Mersey passing through Halton.

Other issues include the Liverpool City Region Freeport. Freeports are a government programme which create special ‘zones’ in which tax and customs rules differ to the rest of the country. The 3MG site in Widnes is currently earmarked as one such special tax zone in the city region.

Bus services across the LCR have also moved to a new ‘franchise model’. It means the city region will have greater control over fares, routes and timetables and the ability to reinvest any profit back into the network to improve services for passengers. Other transport issues relevant to Halton include plans for a new train station at Daresbury.