ANOTHER proposed hike in Mersey Tunnel tolls has been blasted as "absolutely outrageous" by a leading Wirral councillor.

Merseytravel is recommending the toll should increase by 10p - raising the cost of a one-way trip to £1.80.

The rise is recommended for approval by the Merseytravel committee when it meets next Thursday.

Drivers using Fast Tag payment will see the cost frozen at £1.40.

As the tunnels are now "assets" of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, of which Wirral Council's Labour leader Cllr Phil Davies is chairman, it will be up to them to consider the recommendation and take a final decision on the increase on Friday, February 13.

Leader of Wirral Conservative group Cllr Jeff Green said: "Like most Wirral drivers who use the tunnels, I am appalled.

"Labour-controlled Merseytravel seem to see Wirral people as a perpetual cash cow to be taxed and charged as they please.

"It's yet another blow to families and businesses in the borough, and just at a time when the economy is starting to pick up.

"This will be a real test for Phil Davies as leader of the combined authority to to see whether his influence can stop them approving this disgraceful increase, which he will know will be to the great disadvantage of the borough's families and businesses."

Councillor Davies said: “I’m not happy with the recommendation, but I’m pleased that the have decided to freeze Fast Tag – I think that is a good move for people who use the tunnel on a regular basis. That needs to be promoted more than it has been in the past.

“But I’m not happy with the 10p increase because the tunnels are used disproportionately by Wirral residents.

"And at a time when people are struggling with bills and the cost of living, I don’t think it’s the right time to increase the cost of going through the tunnel which lots of people from Wirral have to go through to get to work or to study.”

Asked if he could push for the freeze to be extended to other tunnel users, Cllr Davies said decisions would depend on the views of the other council leaders on the Combined Authority, but said he would be “making my views known” at next week’s meeting.

John McGoldrick, secretary of Mersey Tunnel Users' Association, told the Globe: "I can't say I'm surprised. It just seems to follow a pattern - the tolls go up every year.

"However, it is somewhat unexpected that that they would anything like this so close to the general election.

"It's a tax on Wirral.

"Merseytravel makes far more money than they need, and then spend it on schemes elsewhere - like the £60m they wasted on their grandiose tramway for Liverpool that came to nothing.

"This needs to stop."

David Brown, chief executive of Merseytravel, said: “Though the toll-setting process is different this year with the Combined Authority having the final say, the considerations are the same.

"Members have to weigh up a number of factors – the need for continued investment in the tunnels themselves as an aging but key strategic highway for the city region, the impact on tunnel users and the role of surplus funding.

"This is ringfenced for investment in key transport infrastructure projects for use across the Liverpool City Region – a valuable and sustained source of revenue.”

The use of Fast Tag is on the rise, with almost four-in-ten journeys paid for by using the device.

Merseytravel said that linking the tolls to inflation through the Mersey Tunnels Act 2004 "keeps them broadly in line with other cross river travel costs such as bus and rail fares"

It says this ensures "there are always sufficient funds available for the maintenance and operation of the tunnels, now and in the future, as well as for paying off historic debt."

A report to the committee states that as the "authorised" toll of £1.90 was triggered by a small rise in current year inflation, it would be disproportionate to set it at that level for 2015/16.