Wirral Conservatives in bid to cut tunnels tolls

Feb 4 2010 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Wirral 320

WIRRAL’S Conservative group will be seeking to cut the costs for motorists using the tunnels when the ruling authority meets today.

As revealed in the Daily Post last week, Merseytravel officers have recommended the tolls remain frozen for another year, despite having the option to raise it.

However, Tory spokesman on the authority, Chris Blakeley, said he would be seeking to put forward an amendment to cut this further.

He said: “The Conservative group will be moving an amendment – maybe even a second amendment depending on what happens – to try to reduce the impact the tolls have on regular tunnel users.

“We have to accept that, since the Tunnels Act, there has been £17.1m used from surplus tolls for other transport schemes.

“My belief is that should be used to keep the tolls down.

“The Act should not be used to allow Merseytravel to spend millions of pounds on other schemes.”

Merseytravel will be advised to maintain the current charges for using the Wallasey and Birkenhead tunnels until April, 2011.

The transport authority currently discounts the rate for cars from £1.60 to £1.40, after the toll was allowed to rise by the Mersey Tunnels Act 2004.

The Act allows tunnels operator Merseytravel to raise tolls in line with inflation without the former need to hold a public inquiry.

Tolls for motorists in cars were last increased in April, 2008, from £1.30 to £1.40.