RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on plans to raise the toll required to cross the River Mersey on Halton’s two main bridges.

As previously reported, toll charges on the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges are proposed to increase by 20 per cent in April next year.

This means that the toll charge for unregistered cars would rise from £2 to £2.40, with fines also increasing from £40 to £50.

The move followed recommendations submitted to Halton Borough Council by the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board (MGCB).

Halton Borough Council said that in order to fund the project over its lifetime, it was always expected that toll charges would need to increase annually in line with inflation.

But it says it was able to defer annual increases to minimise costs to motorists, and that if toll charges increase by around 20 per cent next April, then barring unforeseen circumstances, they will remain at that level for three years.

This would mean that by April 2028, toll charges would have increased once in the first 11 years of the project.

Customers registered with toll operator Merseyflow would continue to get discounted crossings where they are eligible.

Now, the council has approved plans to consult residents on the toll increase in toll charges, with the consultation running for six weeks.

When live over the coming days, responses to the consultation must be made electronically at merseygateway.co.uk/consultation2024 before December 16.

Cllr Stef Nelson, the council’s portfolio holder for environment and urban renewal, previously said: “We always knew that we would need to adjust tolls for inflation to meet the costs of maintaining and operating the bridges.

“The recommendations from the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board set out a sustainable approach to doing that.”

MGCB managing director Mike Bennett added: “The whole council team is pleased that we have been able to keep toll charges the same for over seven years, as well as providing discounts for eligible Halton residents and regular users of the bridges.

“I would urge anyone who uses the bridge in Halton regularly to register with Merseyflow, as that is the only way to get discounts on your crossings and it makes managing your payments so much easier.”