Politicians call decision to increase tunnel tolls from April “a hammer blow to Wirral”

Feb 9 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

MERSEYTRAVEL councillors narrowly voted through an increase in tunnel tolls last week – in a move condemned by Wirral’s political leaders as “a hammer blow” to the borough.

The crucial vote on Thursday was split, leaving a councillor from Sefton with the decisive casting vote.

The vote of Mark Dowd, Labour chairman of Merseytravel, also defeated amendments put forward by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats calling for the tolls to remain unchanged.

The proposals had been condemned by political and business leaders in Wirral, who called on Merseytravel to consider the impact of a rise on the local economy.

But Cllr Dowd argued he was being realistic and said: “The people who use the Mersey tunnels should pay for the Mersey tunnels.”

The changes will take effect from April, with a standard trip through the Birkenhead and Wallasey tunnels for a car increasing by 10p to £1.50.

Nine Labour councillors voted for the increase, with the Lib Dems and Conservatives against.

Leasowe councillor Ron Abbey – up for re-election this year – was the only Labour member not to vote with his party, tying the vote at nine votes for and nine against.