Mersey Tunnel tolls to increase (From Wirral Globe)
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Mersey Tunnel tolls to increase
3:42pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Craig Manning
Tunnel tolls to increase
MOTORISTS will see a 10p increase in Mersey Tunnel toll.
It means the cost of driving through the tunnel will rise to £1.60 from April this year.
The hike was approved when the Merseytravel board met on Thursday afternoon.
John McGoldrick, secretary of Mersey Tunnels Users Association, said: "Users of the tunnels will be disappointed at this decision, but we are not surprised as before the meeting it looked as if they had already decided to increase the tolls.
"This increase on already high tolls is not only a blow to those who use the tunnels it will be a blow for most of the people and businesses in the region.
"We told the councillors before the meeting that tolls are a physical, financial and psychological barrier that divides families as well as the economy.
"It seems that the pleas from us and others fell on deaf ears because most politicians only see roads users as a cash cow to generate money for their various spending plans."
Councillor Liam Robinson, chairman of Merseytravel, said: "We understand that motorists will not welcome any rise, but members of the authority decided on this step after extremely careful consideration.
"The decision to make no change to Fast Tag charges means that many motorists will feel no adverse impact at all, and it should be welcomed by all tunnel users.
"We were very conscious of the economic background, and acknowledge that the region is facing a challenging time, but under the Mersey Tunnels Act it is presumed that the actual tolls charged must rise in line with inflation.
"If that were the case this time, tolls would have had to rise to £1.80, but members used their powers to restrict the increase to only 10p."
Merseytravel’s Wirral board members – Cllrs Steve Foulkes, Ron Abbey, John Salter and Les Rowlands - all voted against the increase.
The new tolls will be £1.60 for cars; £3.20 class two; £4.80 class three and £6.40 for class four. Fast Tag discounts have been frozen.
Comments(9)
Positive thinker
says...
6:35pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Jayo
says...
8:54pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Mr.Miffed
says...
8:52pm Fri 8 Feb 13
Instead of raising the tolls, we should be protesting, not only for free river crossings but more crossings. Why can we not have a bridge from the M53 at Hooton to Speke, or a crossing from Seaforth Docks area at Dunnings Bridge Road (where it meets the M57 and M58 motorways systems, a bridge or new tunnel system joining the M53 interchange at Wallasey and then continue through Wirral over a Bridge across the River Dee to meet the A55 North Wales. Imagine the time and fuel saved getting from the North of the River Mersey (Lancashire, The lake District etc., to say Holyhead in North Wales.
Why does everything have to be okay for Londoners but not for us?
ohshutup
says...
11:25am Sat 9 Feb 13
But that would mean job losses (Tunnel staff and I guess the Tunnel police)
Also, do we really need ANOTHER crossing? The tunnels themselves are rarely at gridlock, no more than any other road. I'd say the majority of holdups happen at the toll booths.
Positive thinker
says...
5:05pm Sat 9 Feb 13
Positive thinker
says...
5:05pm Sat 9 Feb 13
Hugo1008
says...
7:18pm Mon 11 Feb 13
The tide surges in and out about every 12 hours this mighty flow alone would generate enough electricity for substantial areas both sides of the river, and what is more would pay for the bridge construction in a few years, and then on for generations to come.
It is totally wrong that Merseyside People paying Tolls, are taxed in this way over and above most other parts of the Country, that happens to have a river dividing their communities.
It does not happen in London as has been posted, nor Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, in the same way as it does in Merseyside.
David Scott
says...
12:06pm Tue 12 Feb 13
WirralAl says...
4:12pm Thu 7 Feb 13