“Re-writing history over Mersey bridge tolls”

WARRINGTON Borough Council has approved a motion calling for the controversial toll on the new bridge to be built over the Mersey in Halton to be scrapped – but only after the controlling Labour group were accused of electioneering and “trying to re-write history.”
Liberal Democrat Cllr Brian Axcell reminded the council that the Mersey Gateway project was started by the last Labour government and was fully supported by the then Labour administration at Warrington – even though the toll was always a requirement of the project.
Cllr Axcell added: “The previous Labour administration here seemed to be obsessed with tolls because they were actually considering congestion charging in Warrington to so that Warrington residents would have to pay tolls to use our own roads!”
He said he put a stop to any idea of congestion charging in Warrington when the Lib Dem-led administration took control of the council in May 2006.
Cllr Axcell said the Mersey Gateway crossing was a “rotten deal” for Warrington.
“We started opposing tolls back in 2009. It is good to see the Labour Group has come round to our position, even though I suspect it is only because of the approaching election.”
Cllr Bob Barr, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Warrington South, said his Labour opponent was happy to collect names on a petition about the removal of tolls.
But he was not able to assure voters that Labour would commit to removing the tolls if they won office.
Conservative leader Cllr Paul Kennedy said the council motion was pointless the Coalition Government officially no longer existed.
Although Ministers stayed in office until the election, they were unable to make major decisions such as the removal of the proposed tolls
He noted that Labour had not pledged to scrap the tolls if they won the election.
Cllr Kenndy also pointed out that he was the only member of the council who had lobbied at the highest level for the tolls to be removed. He had taken the matter up with the :Prime Minister and although he had not won any assurances he was hoping to raise the matter with the Prime Minister again.
The motion approved by the council stated: “Warrington Borough Council acknowledges the economic benefits of the New Mersey Crossing. However, in light of the government’s decision to scrap the proposed toll on the A14 and reduce the current toll on the River Severn crossing, this council calls upon the Secretary of State for Transport to drop the planned toll on the new Mersey Bridge and reverse the decision to impose tolling on the current crossing. The iconic 54-year-old Silver Jubilee Bridge has historically been toll free and has been paid for. The government now proposes it be used as a revenue generator to the detriment of our local economy.”