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Wirral Council leader blasts Mersey Tunnel toll rise as 'knee-jerk'

1:16pm Tuesday 1st February 2011 in News By Leigh Marles

Wirral Council leader blasts Mersey Tunnel toll rise as 'knee-jerk' Wirral Council leader blasts Mersey Tunnel toll rise as 'knee-jerk'

Plans to increase Mersey Tunnel tolls have been blasted by Wirral Council's leader as "knee-jerk."

The Merseytravel board meets on Thursday and is expected to rubber-stamp plans for a 10p hike in the charge.

It would see the cost of a one-way trip through the tunnel rise to £1.50.

Wirral Council leader Jeff Green said: "Wirral's economy is still suffering the effects of the last Government's economic 'bust'.

"Many Wirral people depend on travelling through the tunnel for their employment and have had their pay frozen, or cut.

"This is not the time for a rise in the tolls - I urge all members of Merseytravel - of all parties and from all districts - not to burden the hard-pressed people of Wirral with a toll rise at this time."

He added: "We have jobs and families that rely on the tunnels and I would ask Merseytravel to have their interests in the forefront of their minds when taking this decision.

"I understand that Merseytravel have built up significant reserves from tunnel users and I would urge them to consider the economic impact on Wirral and the wider City Region before taking this unnecessary and knee-jerk action."

Comments(6)

spenser says...
1:29pm Tue 1 Feb 11

At least Merseytravel has publicised their ''knee jerk'' plans unlike the Council and Adult Social Services with theirs on the care homes where almost nothing has been said publicly.

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starry says...
6:03pm Tue 1 Feb 11

i moved to the wirral approx 10 yrs ago, I have never come cross tolls before, and to be honnest i was and always have been appaulled by this amount,as far as iam concerned its mersey tunnels printing money, its highway robbery, On top of this, in this day and age of carbon foot prints, merseyside must have 1 of the largest ones going, due to mersey tunnels, closing 1 side, twice a week, they grid lock liverpool, on occassions, why ??, surely urgent works can be completed at night or are they more intrested in there profits, going on over time, instead of helping to reduce merseysides carbon foot print

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No.9 says...
6:13pm Tue 1 Feb 11

Other things aside... thanks for your support, Jeff.

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bob wirral says...
9:33am Wed 2 Feb 11

"hello"

"yes, is that merseytravel?"

"i have your order of champagne and caviar ready for delivery"

"when would you like it? thursday evening you say.."

"As you wish Mr Scales"

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RussellAlmond says...
10:28am Wed 2 Feb 11

Mr Scales is talking a load of twaddle, he just wants more money coming in, at least be honest about it

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Ben Beaconsfield says...
1:02pm Wed 2 Feb 11

Question for Councillor Green:
When and why did the Conservative Party stop calling for tunnel tolls to be scrapped on the grounds that (a) the tunnels were part of the national road network and (b) tolls were economically divisive in relation to the Merseyside economic unit?
A clue from a cynic.....this was Tory policy when Merseyside County Council was in existence. It was used as a stick with which to beat the Labour Party on the County Council. Mrs Thatcher abolished the Merseyside County Council, so this stick was no longer needed. Result? Bin the policy and never mind the voters.

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