Hauliers boycott Mersey Tunnel in toll hike demo
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• Nearly 200 hauliers boycotted the Mersey Tunnels last Monday to protest against a 122% hike in tolls.
Increases of up to £4.00 for a single truck journey prompted the transport firms to join Wirral Chamber of Commerce in its campaign to overturn the price rises, Now the chamber of commerce plans to present the Government with a petition from 1,034 companies who are angered by the increases, which were introduced last Sunday to clear the tunnels' £120m debt.
The Freight Transport Association plans to ask Government to write off the debt incurred when toll increases fell behind inflation during the 1970s.
"We plan to demand action within 48 hours of a new Transport Secretary being appointed," says chamber of commerce chairman John Allan.
"If action is not forthcoming we will decide upon a campaign which will be very effective," he warns.
Bromborough-based P&O Roadtanks is one of the Merseyside hauliers backing Allan. Before the increases the tolls cost it £300 a week — the increase will force that figure up to over £600 and it says it will have to pass on the extra cost to its customers.
Alternative routes would add nearly 50km to every journey so it cannot avoid using the tunnels. The tolls are rising from 60p to £1.00 for CVs up to 3.5 tonnes; £1.20 to £2.00 for twoaxle LGVs; and £1.80 to £3.00 for multi-axled LGVs. A further rise is due in June, when fouraxled units will be charged £4.00.