All party backing for the abolition of Mersey tunnel tolls

Apr 16 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Mersey tunnels

WIRRAL’S three main political groups are expected to unanimously back calls for tunnels tolls to be scrapped next week when the borough council meets.

It follows the 10 pence increase on April 6 when demonstrators waved placards from a bridge above the Wallasey tunnel in protest at Merseytravel’s decision to raise tolls to £1.40.

At next Monday’s meeting, Labour and Liberal Democrats are expected to support Tory calls for tolls to be abandoned and the tunnels brought into the national road network.

The notice, put forward by Conservatives, will be amended by Labour and Liberal Democrats, but the basic thrust is expected to gain all-party approval.

It calls for Merseytravel to scrap the tolls and in the meantime for officials to “liaise with Merseytravel to investigate the introduction of a discounted scheme that will reduce the burden of tolls substantially on residents of Wirral and Liverpool”.

However, it is unlikely to get the full support of Merseytravel’s board which has representatives from local councils across Merseyside.

Wirral Conservative member of the Merseytravel board, Cllr Chris Blakeley, said: “If scrapping the tolls isn’t going to happen now, we need to seriously look at alternatives, such as the discounts for local people in the Dartford Tunnel.”

Last night deputy leader of the Conservative Group, Lesley Rennie, said: “We can’t understand why the people of Wirral have to pay to go through the tunnels.

“It is our stance that it should be part of the national highway network.”

liammurphy