The Mersey Gateway Project

Halton councillors to consider recommended increases for Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge toll charges

Halton councillors will consider recommendations to make a series of scheme changes, including increasing toll charges and Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) rates for drivers crossing the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridges at a full council meeting next month. 

The recommended changes, which if approved, could take place from 1st April 2025, include:

  • An increase in headline toll charges by 20% with a similar increase in the price of discounted crossings
  • An increase from £10 to £12 in the annual cost of a Local User Discount Scheme plan for eligible Halton residents not using auto renewal
  • Consideration to allow unregistered customers who receive a PCN for the first time after 1st April 2025 to open an account with merseyflow and have their PCN cancelled. This would enable them to have discounted crossings in the future.
  • An increase in Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) rates from £40 to £50
  • Plans for future changes to toll charges to be considered every three years

The recommendations are detailed in Council papers published today alongside an updated Road User Charging Scheme Order and a report from the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board* summarising the feedback from the consultation that took place last year.

They will be considered by Halton councillors at a full meeting of Halton Borough Council at 6.30pm on Monday 10 February.

Financial commitments make a 20% increase in toll charges essential

Halton Borough Council is responsible for funding the Mersey Gateway Project. Should the Council vote not to increase toll charges, it would have to fund any shortfall in income from its own resources.

In order to fund the project’s financial commitments through until 2044, it was always expected that toll charges would need to increase annually in line with inflation.

However, Halton Borough Council has managed project finances carefully, so it has been able to defer these annual increases over the past seven years to minimise costs to motorists during this time.

If it hadn’t done this, toll charges would now be at £2.80 per crossing based on cumulative inflation** over the past seven years. Following the exceptionally high level of inflation between 2021 and 2023, the project now needs to raise additional revenue to meet the forecast expenditure going forward.

The Mersey Gateway Crossings Board held a consultation in late 2024 to ask for feedback on the proposed changes to toll charges and scheme details. There were around 10,000 responses from a customer base of nearly 400,000 registered people.

As a result of this feedback new initiatives are being considered for unregistered customers receiving PCNs for the first time, and to review how businesses manage large fleets of vehicles in single accounts, but the consultation didn’t identify any viable alternatives to increasing toll charges by 20%.  

Mike Bennett, Managing Director of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, said: “Having considered the consultation responses alongside other relevant factors, particularly the long-term financial viability of the project, we are recommending the 20% increase in toll charges to Halton Borough Council as a necessary measure.”

He added: “We do understand that many people will be concerned about this increase. We’ve managed the project carefully to keep toll charges at the same level since 2017 but that’s no longer sustainable. The financial reality of the situation is that, without any additional government funding, the only way to meet the ongoing costs of the project is increasing toll charges and our financial modelling shows that a 20% increase is required on this occasion to meet the project’s financial commitments.”

Recommended toll charges from 1st April 2025

The recommended increases would:

  • be the first in seven and a half years since the Mersey Gateway Bridge opened
  • mean toll charges have increased by less than the cumulative RPI inflation rate – which has already reached 40% – since the Mersey Gateway Bridge opened in 2017.

The recommended toll charges from 1st April are set out in the tables below:

recommended_toll_charges_table_2025

If the recommended increases are approved, emails or letters will be sent to all vehicle owners registered with toll operator merseyflow over the next few weeks to inform them of the changes.

Summary of other recommended changes to toll charges and scheme details from 1st April 2025

  • Local User Discount Scheme (LUDS) plan – it is recommended that the cost of an annual LUDS plan would also increase by 20% to £12 per year. However, there would be a discount to £10 for those eligible Halton residents who renew via auto renewal with a direct debit. Any eligible Halton resident can sign up for auto renewal / direct debit today by logging into their merseyflow account and making the switch auto renewal/direct debit 
  • Penalty Charge Notices – PCN rates would increase from £40 to £50, with anyone who pays within 14 days eligible for a discounted PCN rates which would be chargeable at £25. Charge certificates where applicable would increase from £60 to £75. There would be no changes to enforcement fees which are set by a separate piece of government legislation.

    There would be a new option considered for unregistered customers who receive a PCN for the first time after 1st April 2025 and pay within 14 days to use their initial discounted £25 PCN fee to open an account with merseyflow and have their PCN cancelled. This would enable them to have discounted crossings in the future.

  • Timetable for proposed future changes to toll charges – plans for future changes to toll charges to be made once every three years unless there are exceptional circumstances that require more frequent changes.

*The Mersey Gateway Crossings Board is a special purpose vehicle established by Halton Borough Council with the delegated authority to deliver the Mersey Gateway Bridge Project. It operates as a commercial (though not-for-profit) organisation on an arm’s length basis.

**Cumulative inflation – RPI increases since 2017

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Cumulative RPI inflation  % increase since 2017 3.3% 5.8% 7.0% 12.2% 26.4% 37.5% 41.3%
In year inflation % increase annually 3.3% 2.4% 1.1% 4.9% 12.6% 8.9% 2.7%
Class 2 vehicles toll charge once adjusted for cumulative inflation £2.07 £2.12 £2.14 £2.24 £2.53 £2.75 £2.83
Class 2 vehicles toll charge under proposed approach £2 £2 £2 £2 £2 £2 £2.40

Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge toll charges consultation gets underway

A consultation around proposed changes to toll charges and scheme details on the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges gets underway today (Monday 4 November) and will last for six weeks. 

Anyone can participate by visiting www.merseygateway.co.uk/consultation2024, where Halton Borough Council and the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board (MGCB) have published detailed consultation information, including a new draft Road User Charging Scheme Order.

Emails or letters are being sent to all vehicle owners who are registered as users of the bridges with toll operator merseyflow over the next few weeks, and consultation feedback forms are also available at Halton Direct Links in Widnes and Runcorn and at the merseyflow Walk-In Centre at Manor Park in Runcorn.

The consultation lasts until Monday 16 December. Once it is complete, the feedback will then be considered, alongside the financial requirements of the project, at a full meeting of Halton Borough Council early in 2025, where a decision on any charges will be made. 

The proposed changes, which could take place from 1 April 2025, include:

  • An increase in toll charges by approximately 20% 
  • An increase of £2 in the annual cost of a Local User Discount Scheme plan for those not using auto renewal  
  • An increase in Penalty Charge Notices from £40 to £50

The proposed increase would:

  • be the first in seven and a half years since the Mersey Gateway Bridge opened
  • mean toll charges have increased by less than the cumulative RPI inflation rate – which has already reached 40% – since the Mersey Gateway Bridge opened in 2017.
toll charges table_2024

The consultation also sets out and asks for views on a proposed timetable for future changes to toll charges and asks for feedback on what incentives would encourage people to open an account with tolling operator merseyflow.

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 Halton Borough Council has been able to defer annual increases to minimise costs to motorists. 

The MGCB’s recommendations set out a forward-looking plan where, if toll charges are increased by around 20% 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 just 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 as set out below: 

  • Registered pre-pay customers and monthly pass holders – specific discounted prices have not yet been finalised, but it is anticipated they would also increase by around 20%. This would mean a toll charge of £2.16 for sticker registered Class 2 vehicles compared to £2.40 for unregistered Class 2 vehicles.
  • Local User Discount Scheme plan holders – the cost of a LUDS plan would increase by £2. However, there is a proposal for a discount to £10 for those eligible Halton residents who renew via auto renewal.
  • Penalty Charge Notices – it is proposed that PCNs would increase from £40 to £50 in line with the toll charge increase.

Mike Bennett, Managing Director of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, said: “As part of this consultation we’re asking for people’s views on a range of issues like how often toll charges should change in the future and the proposed adjustments to the Local User Discount Scheme and PCN fees, as well as the headline changes in toll charges.” 

He added: “This is an opportunity for people to contribute their views to inform the decision-making process in these areas. However, we are not consulting on the principle of toll charges. This was settled at the public inquiry held for the Mersey Gateway Project in 2009 and since then has been incorporated into the legal documentation for the tolling system.”

Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge toll charges consultation approved by Halton Borough Council

Halton Borough Council has today (Thursday 24 October) approved plans to consult on an increase in toll charges on the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges from April 2025.

Whilst approving the overall consultation around toll charges, Halton Council’s Executive Board has also decided that there will be no changes to the Blue Badge holder scheme. 

The consultation will start in November 2024 and will last for six weeks. 

The recommended increase would:

  • be the first in seven and a half years since the Mersey Gateway Bridge opened
  • raise the unregistered toll charge for all vehicle categories by around 20%
  • increase the toll charge for unregistered cars from £2 to £2.40 
  • mean toll charges have increased by less than the cumulative RPI inflation rate since the bridge opened – which has already reached 40%.

Proposed unregistered toll charges from April 2025

Toll-charges-2025

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 Halton Borough Council has been able to defer annual increases to minimise costs to motorists. 

The MGCB’s recommendations set out a forward-looking plan where, if toll charges are increased by around 20% 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 just 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 as set out below: 

  • Registered pre-pay customers and monthly pass holders – specific discounted prices have not yet been finalised, but it is anticipated they would also increase by around 20%. This would mean a toll charge of £2.16 for sticker registered Class 2 vehicles compared to £2.40 for unregistered Class 2 vehicles.
  • Local User Discount Scheme plan holders – the cost of a LUDS plan would increase by £2. However, there is a proposal for a discount to £10 for those eligible Halton residents who renew via auto renewal.
  • Penalty Charge Notices – it is proposed that PCNs would increase from £40 to £50 in line with the toll charge increase.

Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge toll charges could be set to rise for first time in over seven years

Toll charges on the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridges could be set to rise in April 2025 under recommendations submitted to Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board this week by the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board (MGCB)*.

The recommended increase would:

  • be the first in seven and a half years since the Mersey Gateway Bridge opened
  • raise the unregistered toll charge for all vehicle categories by around 20%
  • increase the toll charge for unregistered cars from £2 to £2.40
  • mean toll charges have increased by less than the cumulative RPI inflation rate since the bridge opened – which has already reached 40%.

Proposed unregistered toll charges from April 2025

Toll-charges-2025

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 Halton Borough Council has been able to defer annual increases to minimise costs to motorists.

The MGCB’s recommendations set out a forward-looking plan where, if toll charges are increased by around 20% 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 just 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 as set out below:

  • Registered pre-pay customers and monthly pass holders – specific discounted prices have not yet been finalised, but it is anticipated they would also increase by around 20%. This would mean a toll charge of £2.16 for sticker registered Class 2 vehicles compared to £2.40 for unregistered Class 2 vehicles.
  • Local User Discount Scheme plan holders – the cost othe cost of a LUDS plan would increase by £2. However, there is a proposal for a discount to £10 for those eligible Halton residents who renew via auto renewal.
  • Blue Badge holders – there is a proposed change to the Blue Badge scheme. This would see the current arrangement replaced by a scheme where vehicles that are registered in the Disabled Taxation class and are fully exempt from vehicle tax, would be able to cross for free without any registration requirement. This is a simpler approach widely used on other tolled routes across England. (UPDATE: The proposed change to the Blue Badge scheme was rejected by Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board on 24 October 2024, so this is no longer part of the consultation).
  • Penalty Charge Notices – it is proposed that PCNs increase from £40 to £50 in line with the toll charge increase.

If plans are given the go-ahead to move forward by Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board, there will be a consultation starting in November around these proposals and the adoption of an updated Road User Charging Scheme Order (RUCSO), which is the legal document that sets out the toll charges.

Government grants form a critical part of the Mersey Gateway funding package

The majority of funding for the Mersey Gateway Project has and will continue to come from toll charges paid by people who use the bridges. The remainder comes from the Department for Transport (DfT), which provides tens of millions of pounds of funding for the project every year. Without this subsidy from Government, the project would make a significant annual loss.

The Executive Board report details the government grants issued to the Council over the first five and a half years of operating the project and the amount of unused grant that has now been returned to the DfT.

Halton Borough Council is repaying unused grant back to the DfT because it receives this grant funding in advance based on an agreed estimate. Once the actual revenue and expenditure is known each financial year, then the amount of grant that is required is calculated, and any unused grant is then returned to the DfT at the relevant review period.

This unused grant cannot be used to offset the increase in tolls as it belongs to the DfT.

  • In total, the DfT provided operating grants of £138 million to the project from October 2017 to March 2023.
  • £85.35 million of this DfT grant was used to help fund the project.
  • In line with original funding agreement,
    • £44.75 million, representing 85% of the unused grant, has now been returned to the DfT, and
    • the remaining £7.9million, representing 15% of unused grant, has been retained by Halton Council to contribute towards the operation, maintenance and improvement of the Silver Jubilee Bridge and any public transport initiatives in the Council’s Local Transport Plan.

More information is available at www.merseygateway.co.uk/finances.

Mike Bennett, Managing Director of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, said “The whole council team is pleased that we’ve 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.”

Cllr Stef Nelson, Halton Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Environment and Urban Renewal, 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.”

He added: “In terms of the retained grant funding, this isn’t a surprise or a sudden windfall. It is the funding mechanism for the project working exactly as all parties involved expected it to. It has been part of the Council’s budget planning process over the past couple of years, and it has allowed Halton Council to continue to fund essential public transport services.”

*The Mersey Gateway Crossings Board is a special purpose vehicle established by Halton Borough Council with the delegated authority to deliver the Mersey Gateway Bridge Project. It operates as a commercial (though not-for-profit) organisation on an arm’s length basis.

MGCB Service Update

The week ending 17 May was the busiest for
traffic across the Mersey Gateway Bridge since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown
began back in March. An extra 45,000 vehicles crossed the bridge compared to
the previous week.

New data shows that the traffic level at the
height of the lockdown was less than a third of the typical pre-lockdown number
of vehicles flowing across the bridge between Runcorn and Widnes.

However, whilst the past week has been the
busiest since 16 March, overall traffic is still at less than half of
pre-lockdown levels.

Traffic has dropped across all vehicle
classes, though the new figures shared by bridge operator merseyflow do show
how traffic patterns have varied across different vehicle types over the past
two months.

  • The quietest week was week commencing 6th
    April when just 154,000 vehicles crossed the Mersey, compared to a typical
    pre-lockdown average of almost 500,000 journeys.
  • Class 4 vehicles – HGVs and other large
    vehicles – went from around 7% of daily traffic up to 13% of daily traffic at
    the height of the lockdown, before reducing back to their current figure of 10%.
  • Halton residents, Blue Badge holders and
    registered customers have all significantly reduced travel as a result of the
    lockdown.
  • Motorcyclists have taken advantage of the
    lockdown easing and better weather, with the past week showing the highest
    number of motorcyclists crossing the bridge in a single week for several months
  • The number of PCNs issued reduced
    significantly and payment on time rates remained high at almost 98% during
    April and May.
  • A growing percentage of people paying for
    their journeys using the merseyflow quick pay app, which has now been downloaded
    over 26,000 times since it was launched last November.

A number of new features for the app are now
being tested and will be ready for roll-out within the next few weeks.

Tolls/charges remain in force on the bridge,
despite a number of urgent requests from Halton Borough Council, which have
been supported by merseyflow, to the UK Government to temporarily waive
tolls/charges during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UK Government has not agreed to this
request as it has maintained its stance that continuation of tolling/charging
on crossings is a matter that has to be considered in a national context.

Neil Conway, Chief Executive of merseyflow,
said: “These figures show just how much people across the north west have
reduced their travel during the lockdown. They will also act as a guide to how
much things are slowly getting ‘back to normal’ in terms of behaviour patterns
as the lockdown gradually eases. We’ve just finished the first week of things
being more relaxed, but it is clear that less people are staying at home as
there was an extra 45,000 journeys made last week.”

Mike Bennett, Managing Director of the Mersey
Gateway Crossings Board, said: “I think these figures show how responsible
people have been over the past two months in minimising non-essential journeys.
It also shows how the changing message from Government since 11th
May has certainly had an impact on traffic activity levels here in the north
west.”

Skip to content