Remove all bridge tolls

LIBERAL Democrats at Warrington are calling for urgent action from the government to remove all tolls on the Mersey bridges at Halton.
This follows the recent government decision to remove tolls for Halton residents but leave them in place for other road users.
Lib Dem highways spokesman Cllr Brian Axcell (pictured) said: “This announcement was good news for the residents of Runcorn and Widnes but makes matters much worse for Warrington residents and the Warrington economy.
“If the bridges will still need to generate the same income, and no extra money is found, the higher tolls for users who don’t live in Halton will inevitably divert ever more of them through Warrington to avoid the charge.”
Earlier this year, there was all party support for a Lib Dem motion calling on the government to remove tolls completely.
It was pointed out that the government had removed tolls on the A14 between Cambridge and Huntington after pressure from local people and that the same thing should happen at Halton.
Lib Dem group leader Cllr Ian Marks said: “Local businesses have said that congestion is the main impediment to doing business in Warrington.
“Higher tolls on the bridges will create more congestion in the town and dampen down our economy with a negative impact on jobs.
“The government is rightly keen to rebalance the economy and break down the north/south divide. Removing these tolls would show the north it means what it says.”