INVESTIGATIONS are ongoing into the controversial Warburton Toll Bridge operation after port bosses revealed they are reviewing a wave of driver complaints.
Peel Ports has confirmed it is investigating the under-fire system alongside automated contractor Excel Parking. It comes after a local councillor, Graham Gowland (Lymm South), said he was “horrified” by the volume of unpaid toll notices at Warburton Toll Bridge and that drivers are being caught in a “penalty trap”, after a surge in penalty notices since the new system came into operation.
Over recent weeks, the councillor says he has been contacted by a large number of residents and visitors who have reported receiving multiple fines months after using the bridge, often with no indication at the time that anything was wrong.
“When you are issuing roughly one penalty notice for every ten crossings, it raises serious questions about whether this system is fair or working as intended,” Cllr Gowland warned. He added that furious residents feel the penalties are being treated as a “revenue stream rather than a last resort.
“Desperate motorists described receiving huge batches of fines months after using the bridge. Commuter Lewis was hit with 18 penalty notices totalling over £500. He blasted the delayed enforcement as “not proportionate.”
In response to the concerns, Jon Hassett, Deputy Port Director, insisted that bosses are listening to the growing public anger.
“We recognise the variety of concerns road users have raised about the operation of the toll enforcement system, including the appeals process, payment methods and customer experience,” Mr Hassett said.
“We take all feedback seriously and are reviewing the examples that have been provided, in conjunction with Excel Parking, who are responsible for the number plate recognition system and the toll charges. We and Excel will continue to investigate any specific examples provided and it will be for Excel to implement changes from any lessons learned. Our focus remains on delivering a fair, proportionate and transparent service for all users.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the bridge operator strongly denied a wider failure of the automated system. They stated that the number of appeals represents less than half of one percent (0.43%) of all crossings.
“Our current assessment is that, while there have been some genuine customer experience issues, the evidence does not indicate a systemic failure of the scheme. The majority of cases reviewed to date have identified individual user errors, which have all been resolved upon investigation.”
The spokesperson added that where errors were made by Excel or Peel Ports, they have “acted appropriately” by upholding appeals and issuing retrospective payments. They also noted that a “phased and proportionate” approach was used during the initial months to limit the number of fines issued while drivers adjusted.
Politicians across the region have been facing intense pressure to step in. Activists are also demanding an immediate pause on all backdated enforcement while the official review takes place.
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