Mersey tunnel tolls to rise from April
Feb 4 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post
Tunnel tolls
Business on the attack over Mersey Tunnel price rise plan
by Alistair Houghton, Daily Post
BUSINESSES last night continued their attack on plans by Merseytravel to increase the Mersey tunnel tolls by 10p.
Revealed on Friday, the proposal would increase the toll to £1.40 for normal cars.
The Mersey tunnel users’ association has branded the move a “scandal” and said the tunnels were once again being used as a “cash cow”.
The Daily Post revealed on Saturday how the extra income of £3.6m would be used to fund new offices for tunnels staff in Wallasey.
Last night Peter Hassall, owner of Peter Hassall Transport in Ellesmere Port, said: “It’s just another nail in the coffin.
“We’ve been hit by diesel prices – they’ve never stopped going up. Merseytravel are in a world of their own. The tunnel is a lifeline. If you’re in Birkenhead you’re not going to go all the way round to get to Liverpool.
“We deliver essential goods. We don’t just potter across to Liverpool to look at the sea. It’s ridiculous we have to pay to use the tunnels at all. As heavy goods operators we pay enough tax as it is.”
Mike Murphy owns Bebington-based private hire firm Murphy’s Air Link, which takes customers from Wirral to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Lime Street Station, as well as taking contractors and hospital patients between Wirral and Liverpool.
He said: “My reaction to these rises? Shock and horror, on top of all the other rises we face. The tunnels should be free to use. They’re part of the public transport system.
“The airport and main line train station for Wirral are in Liverpool. People have to use the tunnel.”
Paul Molyneux, Wirral branch chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Once again, we are seeing Wirral residents who have the misfortune to work in Liverpool being hit with a tax hike.
“It is time that Merseytravel and the Government followed the example of the Scottish Executive and placed both tunnels within the national road network, free of tolls.”
Former campaigner against previous tunnel price increases Phil Fleming, who now sits on Merseytravel’s tunnels board, last night said he had not been informed of the proposed increase and was “surprised”.
The owner of a small business himself, Mr Fleming said: “I’m quite surprised. We could have raised it two years ago and didn’t.”
Merseytravel’s budget committee will consider the 10p rise today.
