Decision day for Mersey Tunnels tolls increase

9:20am Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Craig Manning

Motorists braced for Mersey Tunnel toll rise Motorists braced for Mersey Tunnel toll rise

MOTORISTS are bracing themselves for a 10p increase in Mersey Tunnel tolls.

Officials are recommending transport authority Merseytravel should approve the increase when its board meets today.

Wirral board member Cllr Steve Foulkes has appealed for the Government to take the tunnels into the roads network.

The former Wirral Council leader said: “At the moment there are a number of options being put forward.

"Clearly, this is a highly-sensitive issue for Wirral residents and Merseyside as a whole.

“I have made a fairly public appeal for the Government to take the tunnels into the road network. But my colleagues are telling me that this not a positive option.

“We therefore need to consider a number of issues, including maintenance of the tunnels.

“Finally, we have to remember the tunnels are part of a vital transport network."

John McGoldrick, secretary of protest group Mersey Tunnel Users' Association, said an increase should be opposed.

 "There is no justification for increasing tunnel tolls," he said.

“Increases are bad news for motorists and businesses.

“Merseytravel would have to be mad to think that now is a reasonable time for them to extract even more money from drivers and businesses using the tunnels.”

He said the Mersey toll is the joint third most expensive in the country, the only ones higher being the Severn and the Dartford crossings.

A board report in January said the authority would miss out on generating an additional £2.6m unless it agrees a rise from the current £1.50 per car.

The last increase was in April of 2011 and the toll has been frozen since then.

A Merseytravel spokesman said no comment would be made until after the vote.

Comments(18)

No.9 says...
12:24pm Thu 31 Jan 13

The tunnels make a healthy profit from which approx. £5.5million is used to subsidise other services. This money should be paying off the historic debts still standing at £58m. The disgraceful 2004 Tunnels Act which allows this increase also allows for considering a tolls reduction by taking into account their economic or social impact. I can't think of any time in the past where this hasn't been more appropriate. On-going maintenance must obviously be accounted for but why should (mainly) Wirral commuters driving to work and local businesses subsidise other people's transport costs and services? A proper local resident discount scheme (similar to the Dartford Tunnel) should also be in place. FastTag is a complete joke!

Report this post »

bigfoot says...
1:10pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Where were Wirral's reps on the committee off sick,on holiday or still eating their prawn butty?

Report this post »

Positive thinker says...
1:48pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Is it 10pence or £10 were talkin about
here

Report this post »

sandhills says...
7:18pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Can i ask the MP`s on both sides of the Mersey what their opinions are as regards the tunnel increase. The silence from all of them is deafening!

I will certainly be e-mailing mine to find out.

Report this post »

No.9 says...
7:19pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Positive thinker wrote:
Is it 10pence or £10 were talkin about
here
Can't you read?

Report this post »

Positive thinker says...
5:31pm Fri 1 Feb 13

I was being sarcastic No 8

Report this post »

Positive thinker says...
5:31pm Fri 1 Feb 13

I was being sarcastic No 8

Report this post »

Thepleb says...
9:40am Sat 2 Feb 13

Mr Folkes on the board no wonder they are a complete shambles,look what he left behind when he jumped of the good ship destination excellence.

Report this post »

David Scott says...
10:57am Mon 4 Feb 13

For various sound reasons, it is overdue for the tunnel to be toll free, as part of the general road network. However, the will is not there, because governments would really like to extend tolls to ordinary roads (in line with EU policy).

Report this post »

Positive thinker says...
5:45pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Probably be a better idea if they put it up to £2.00 and fixed at that price for the next 4-5 years before looking to put it up again

Report this post »

bickyboy says...
7:22pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Stop Press: in protest at their own actions, an immovable object--the members of the Merseytravel Committee-- chains itself to an irresistible temptation--their expenses ledger.

I hear that at the start of Committee meetings they get in the mood by playing their theme song: "The Only Way is Up".

Report this post »

Louise2177 says...
6:04pm Wed 6 Feb 13

I really dont understand anymore why they are constantly putting up toll prices, is the aim of this to stop people using the tunnels?? Coz i know i will.

Report this post »

antisthenes says...
6:37pm Wed 6 Feb 13

The more observant regular tunnel user will have noticed that on the reverse of the £1.50 toll signs located at the pay booths there are a pre-prepared inserts showing £1.60.

The £1.60 inserts have been there since the current toll fee notices were installed when the toll rose a couple of years back.

Whilst I welcome the cost saving foresight of not having to install completely new signs when the tolls rise; it is obvious that the 10p rise was planned long in advance and despite the protestations of many the 10p rise is a foregone conclusion

Report this post »

Positive thinker says...
10:08pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Louise 2177,

You will be part of a very small number

Report this post »

jimisugly says...
1:05pm Thu 7 Feb 13

positive thinker - every message you leave on this website is negative or against what the majority of opinions given.

Are you just there to try and spark some kind of argument?

Think you should change your name to negative thinker!

The tunnel toll was originally to pay for the cost of the tunnel - we have now paid for the tunnel 5 times over, but whilst there is money to be taken from the poor, or those struggling to get to work everyday just to keep their heads above water - the government will keep taking.

Report this post »

Positive thinker says...
1:14pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Uglyjim,

Iam not being negative I just don't see the point of going against it,they always get there own way

Report this post »

No.9 says...
3:51pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Over one year someone driving from Formby into Liverpool to work pays fuel and road tax. Someone driving from Wirral to Liverpool to work pays fuel, road tax plus £624 toll tax (if using FastTag) or £720 (normal toll tax). These amounts will rise by another £48 per year if the rise goes through. It's a tax without representation and it's unfair.

Report this post »

Positive thinker says...
4:12pm Thu 7 Feb 13

There's the answer move to Formby

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree