Wirral | Archive | 2005 | October | 26
From the archive, first published Wednesday 26th Oct 2005.
By Geoff Barnes
TUNNEL toll cash could be used to fund Liverpool's new tram scheme, the Globe can report.
A decision was made by the Merseyside Passenger Transport Auth-ority to use the money to bolster Merseytram even though Wirral councillers refused to vote against the motion.
Tory Cllr Jacquie McKelvie, who failed with a counter-motion that no further local authority finance be committed to the tram project, said: "I believe it is wrong to enter into this type of long-term agreement which may create significant financial commitments for the people of Merseyside for many years to come."
She added: "I am particularly disappointed that the other Wirral representatives from the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups, who also serve on the MPTA, refused to support my recommendation.
"Rather than vote against the MPTA executive recommendation they simply refused to vote. What is the point of them turning up to the meeting? By abstaining they are telling tunnel users that they are not opposed to the tunnel tolls income being used to fund the Merseytram scheme."
Cllr Steve Foulkes, Labour Leader of Wirral Council said: "The council view has been quite solid - that we did not want the tram scheme to be a burden on taxes raised through tunnel levy or subsidised by tunnel tolls. Nor would we release any money used for concessionary travel for pensioners. We have stuck to this line at every opportunity."
Cllr Foulkes added: "My members on the MPTA abstained at the MPTA meeting, which effectively acted as a vote against.
"They were under enormous pressure from the rest of Merseyside on this issue. I am proud of the stance they took - they did not support a £40m loan to rescue the tram project."
Cllr Mrs McKelvie insisted: "I am completely against any revenue from tunnel tolls being used to support the Merseytram scheme and remain absolutely committed to the view that this long-term additional financial burden should not be placed on Wirral residents."
The Merseytram scheme was £65m short after the Government refused to increase its £170m funding package.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008