Council chief wants assurances on Mersey bridge tolls

THE leader of Warrington Borough Council is seeking assurances from the government that local motorists will not have to pay to use the new Mersey Gateway bridge.
Cllr Terry O’Neill has written to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to remind him of the Government’s promise to waive tolls for Warrington residents travelling over the new bridge in Halton which opens to traffic later this year.
In his letter to Andrew Jones MP – a copy of which has also been sent to Warrington South MP David Mowat – Cllr O’Neill asks for an update on progress around the issue and requests clarification on how the free crossings for Warrington residents will be funded.
The six-lane bridge over the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes will be tolled.
In the run-up to the general election in 2015, former Prime Minister David Cameron, former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne and David Mowat MP promised the fees would be scrapped for Warrington residents.
However, Warrington has not yet received clarification over the
funding and implementation of this.
Cllr O’Neill said: “I am a supporter of the new bridge, but have made it clear from the outset that I have real concerns over the people of this borough having to pay tolls to use it.
“This is a really important issue, which could impact on tens of thousands of local motorists. That’s why I’m concerned at the lack of clarity – since the initial promises were made – over how the free crossings will be funded.
“I have written to the Government previously on this issue but am yet to receive an update. As it stands, with the opening of the bridge fast approaching, we still have no idea how the Government’s pledges will be implemented. I’ll be doing everything in my power to resolve this.
“I hope to receive a response from the Government in the very near future, and I will continue to pursue this until local people get the clarity they deserve on this issue.”