New Bridge as seen from Wigg Island Runcorn.

[maverick]

Dec 2, 2014 9:45:32 GMT 1 liverpoolman1 said:

At the initial stage of planning I pointed out to the enquiry team that, with tolls on the new bridge, the River Mersey had tolls from Liverpool city centre to Warrington. How, I asked, was this "penalty" going to benefit the local economy. We will, they assured me, take your opinions into consideration. What they meant was that my impertinent question would go straight into the waste paper basket. A city the size of Liverpool should have free access at all points. Yes, scrap the tunnel tolls at the same time as the new bridge opens and the local economy will benefit. Did they take any notice? Time has given us the answer. Rant over as i am tired of talking common sense to politicians who have their cloth ears on - permanently.

As usual politicians obsessed with 'making things pay' rather than looking at the greater good. Very like the APD debate - raise a billion or two for the treasury whilst ignoring the tens of billions lost to the country in trade.

Our road network transport infrastructure should be delivered through general taxation rather than tolls which invariably disadvantage any area with a river or other such obstacle near it.

It's not even clear when a route should be tolled or not.. the Barton Bridge for instance - part of the motorway network isn't - but the new Runcorn-Widnes bridge will be. I guess the length and cost are not that far different?

Scrap all tolls - as per Scotland and it will make a level playing field for everyone.

(Looks like Scotland will scrap APD shortly too)

    

[Beemer]

The Thelwall Viaduct that also crosses the River Mersey is toll free and there is the little know privately owned toll bridge at Warburton next to the Thelwall Viaduct. I sympathize with any one who does not live in the Halton area who is not entitled to free passes but has to cross the new bridge on numerous times per day due to their job etc. Don't forget the Stanley Holloway monologue "Per tuppence per person per trip" that was all about the first toll to cross the Mersey at Runcorn, albeit by boat. I think there will be more tolls in the future due to the money lost with all the so called green cars not having to pay the road fund licence. Regards Beemer.

[mb]

Beemer,thanks for the video tip.I watched it and was surprised to see 2-way traffic on the new bridge.I thought the idea was that it would be one-way on the new bridge and one-way on the existing??? I was delighted to see on the video that there is going to be a fantastic clean up of Widnes as I could see no dead dogs,discarded Asda trollies,burnt out Fiestas or gippo encampments.

Anyway,it's obvious I have touched on a sore nerve that strikes a chord with a lot of people.I mean do people realise how much money is raised from all vehicle taxation and the corresponding(low) amount is spent on the roads infrastructure( including bridges)?It's comparatively minuscule, then " they" have the effrontery to put tolls on bridges we have already paid for.I went up to Scotland mid-year.Womderful.Hardly any parking charges(apart from very congested areas) and no tolls.And yes,it looks as though they will see sense and(like many others) abolish APD.Oh sorry,I was forgetting it was an Environmental Protection tax( or something).I wrote to our then MP when Labour were in power and asked how much had been raised in Air Tax since it's inception and how much had been spent on protecting the " environment" I did actually get a written reply from the Minister saying basically-none- as all the tax raised (now APD) went into the pot to be spent as the Gov sees fit.So,it's just another tax.My worry is that after next May when we have another elected dictatorship for another 5 years how long will it be before road tolls in general raises it's ugly head?

The toll proposal for the Mersey bridges and for the tunnel stinks.But I guess the supine sheep will ,as usual,just roll over and acquiesce.

Wonder what new taxes Gideon Osborne( look it up folks) will announce (or more likely-not) tomorrow?

Rant from the Welsh hills over

[Beemer]

A few photos showing progress on the new bridge as seen from G-OMEM.

IMG_0040a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0099a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0096a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0090a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0087a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0083a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0078a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0070a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0064a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0063a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0052a by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0115 Runcorn Bridge by tommoxxx, on Flickr

IMG_0183 Ineos by tommoxxx, on Flickr

Regards Beemer