MERSEY tunnel tolls are to remain frozen for another year, the Liverpool Daily Post can reveal.

Merseytravel will be advised to maintain the current charges for using the Wallasey and Birkenhead tunnels for all vehicles until April, 2011.

The transport authority currently discounts the rate for cars from £1.60 to £1.40, after the toll was allowed to rise by the Mersey Tunnels Act 2004.

The Act allows operator Merseytravel to raise tolls in line with inflation without the former need to hold a public inquiry.

Tolls for motorists in cars were last increased in April, 2008, from £1.30 to £1.40.

Last year, Merseytravel agreed to freeze tolls at 2008 levels for 12 months to ease the financial burden on drivers during the recession – but it was expected the rate would increase to £1.60 in April this year.

But Cllr Chris Blakeley, who sits on the authority board, said he had discussed the tolls with Merseytravel’s director of resources and the recommendation will be to retain the current charges.

Cllr Blakeley said: “I have gone through the budget with the director and there is no RPI trigger. The director is also not proposing to the authority that there should be any increase to the tolls that are paid now.”

Conservative Cllr Blakeley said one of the other political groups could still try to propose an increase and the authority board will take the final decision.

He said: “Obviously I will listen to all the arguments and make my decision at the meeting.

“But I’m delighted there is not going to be a recommendation from the director to increase the tolls, and I’m sure the people of Wirral will be delighted.”