BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field has written to the communities and local government secretary asking him to give the Liverpool City Region the powers to cut Mersey Tunnel toll charges.

Wirral residents driving to work in Liverpool are charged a toll fee of £3.40 each time they use the tunnels and this rises to £6.80 for certain heavy goods vehicles.

In his letter to Greg Clark, Mr Field wrote: "A most crucial element of the City Region’s bid for devolved powers affecting my constituents comes with the request for local control over the Mersey Tunnels.

“The City Region proposes in its devolution bid that it be granted the freedom to set toll levels locally and vary them by time of day and vehicle engine type, so it can try and ease at least some of the burden on Wirral residents.

“It also requests support from the Government to manage debt repayments on the tunnels.

“If a deal on transport powers can be brokered it would fasten the rocket-boosters to Wirral residents’ case for a reduction in toll charges."

Councillor Phil Davies, chairman of the City Region Combined Authority and leader of Wirral Council, said: “Freedom to set toll levels locally is a key ‘ask’ in the Liverpool City Region’s devolution submission to Government.

" I would like to move to a position where we can start to reduce tunnel tolls for residents of Wirral."

Mr Field has requested a meeting with the minister and the City Region leadership to thrash out a deal on devolving transport decisions ahead of the Government’s next spending review.

Back in May, Chancellor George Osborne promised tunnel tolls “definitely” would be cut for local drivers when he visited the area to back the then Wirral West MP Esther McVey’s election campaign.

The Chancellor indicated he hoped to go further and fully abolish the fees depending on a review he pledged would be completed this year.