Mersey Gateway Project savings could depend on how often residents use the bridge

Jun 11 2009 by Mark Smith, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

THE frequency by which Halton residents use the Mersey Gateway bridges could influence the toll discounts they receive, project chiefs have admitted.

Cross-examining council chief executive David Parr at the public inquiry, John McGoldrick of the National Alliance Against Tolls questioned the legality of offering discounts to residents.

He said: “I’m not aware of any legal provision which allows you to differentiate between local people and everyone else.”

Mr Parr replied that concessions would be offered as part of a ‘frequent user discount’.

But Mr McGoldrick said: “There’s a difference between a frequent user and a local resident, what if those local people aren’t frequent users?”

In a separate statement to the Weekly News, a Mersey Gateway spokesman said: “Provisions are made in both the Road User Charging Order for the Silver Jubilee Bridge and the tolling provisions for the new bridge that would allow the council to provide a discount scheme.

“The council has resolved to prioritise discounts for local and regular users.

“In determining the preferred discount scheme the council will take into account any social and economic factors arising from tolls, including where local people use the river crossings on a regular basis.”