Furious tunnel protesters step up anti-tolls battle

Jun 13 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

CAMPAIGNERS against Mersey tunnels tolls last night stepped up their protest after the Government revealed local motorists travelling on the Dartford Crossing would pay 20p.

Residents of Dartford and Thurrock will benefit from discounts at the Dartford Crossing, Transport Minister Rosie Winterton confirmed yesterday.

Under the discount scheme, local residents will be entitled to 50 free crossings per year on payment of a £10 annual administration fee.

After that, crossings will cost 20p each – the move follows a public consultation on the discount scheme.

Following the announcement, John McGoldrick, secretary of the Mersey Tunnels Users Association, again called for Liverpool and Wirral councils – along with local MPs – to take “real action” against the Mersey Tunnel tolls.

He said it “would have been more of a surprise” if, at the end of the consultation, the Government had announced that Dartford and Thurrock residents would not get a discount.

He said: “We believe that the Mersey Tunnels and all other crossings should be free. But it is obviously a lot better to pay 20p rather than £1.40.”

Car drivers using the Dartford crossing will have to pay 50p more per journey during the day, but crossings will be free at night.

Cars will have to pay £1.50 from 6am to 10pm in a bid to curb congestion, as part of new plans to be implemented in the autumn.

Ms Winterton said: “Local people made a strong case for a discount and we have listened.”

To benefit from the local discount, residents will need to register annually and apply for an electronic “tag” to be displayed in their car’s windscreen.

The annual registration fee will be £10, the same local discount registration fee as the London Congestion charge. The discount will be available for private cars only.

Separate discounts are available to anyone who chooses to pay using a “DART-Tag”. Car drivers with a “DART-Tag” will be able to use the crossing for £1, whereas those paying cash will in future pay £1.50.

MEMBERS of the Mersey Tunnels Users Association (MTUA) are planning to stage a demonstration during the Under and Over the Mersey tunnel walk-through event this Sunday June 15.

OPINION: PAGE 10

liammurphy