MERSEYTRAVEL councillors narrowly voted through an increase in tunnel tolls yesterday – in a move condemned by Wirral’s political leaders as “a hammer blow” to the borough.

As predicted in Tuesday’s Daily Post the crucial vote was split, leaving Sefton councillor Mark Dowd, Labour chairman of Merseytravel, with the decisive casting vote.

Cllr Dowd’s vote also defeated three amendments put forward by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats calling for the tolls to remain unchanged.

The proposals had come under fire as the region suffers from the continuing effects of recession.

But Cllr Dowd argued he was being realistic and said: “The people who use the Mersey tunnels should pay for the Mersey tunnels”.

The changes will take effect from April with a standard trip through the tunnels for a car increasing by 10p to £1.50.

Nine Labour councillors voted for the increase with the Lib Dems and Conservatives against.

Wirral councillor Ron Abbey – up for re-election this year – was the only Labour member not to vote with his party, tying the vote at nine votes for and nine against. He told the meeting he had to “search his conscience” on the issue.

All of Wirral’s main political party leaders had called on Merseytravel – which sets the tolls – to consider the impact of a rise in travelling between Wirral and Liverpool on the local economy.

Cllr Dowd said: “I’ve been the chairman of this organisation since 1992 – then tunnel tolls were £1. Two kilos of potatoes were 14p then, now it’s £1.55.

“We’ve got to look at what’s gone on over a period of nearly two decades.

“It’s been three years since tolls went up and three years before that.