Weekly News
www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk ●
VEHICLE windscreen stickers are being sent out to homes across the North West to give motorists discounts on tolls for Halton’s two river crossings.
After opening registration in mid-July, the Merseyflow team has registered 16,000 vehicles onto the tolling system.
It ensures those vehicles’ owners will receive discounted or free travel across the Silver Jubilee and Mersey Gateway Bridges.
The new Mersey Gateway is expected to open this autumn and when it does the Silver Jubilee Bridge will be closed to road traffic for up to 12 months while it is refurbished.
Both crossings between Runcorn and Widnes will be tolled, but those eligible for the Halton residents’ discount scheme in the borough can register and pay a £10 annual fee in order to claim free trips over the bridges.
It will still be possible to cross the bridges without registering but those who do will have to pay the full unregistered toll fee which is £2 per car per crossing, with additional charges for larger vehicles.
Discounts of up to 10% are available. An unlimited travel pass can be purchased for £90 per month for drivers of cars and small vans.
Merseyflow is urging people to register now to beat the rush when the Mersey Gateway Bridge opens.
Staff at the Merseyflow post room are now working hard to ensure everyone who has registered a vehicle gets their sticker as quickly as possible.
Anthony Alicastro, chief executive officer of emovis operations (Mersey) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of emovis, which runs the ● ● Merseyflow operation, said that about 1,500 stickers had been sent out so far, with more being posted every day.
Mr Alicastro said: “It’s been an extremely busy and successful few weeks as the team works hard to ensure everyone who registers online, in person or over the phone is added to the system.
“The interest we’ve had from people registering is phenomenal, but it does mean we have been exceptionally busy. “As a result, there have been some minor delays in sending stickers out.
“I’d like to thank everyone who’s registered for their patience, and want to assure them that they will get their sticker soon.
“The bridge will be opening soon and we want as many people as possible to register with us, and get the discounts they’re entitled to.”
The specially-designed Merseyflow stickers fit on the inside of a car’s windscreen and should be placed high up in the centre close to the rear view mirror.
Merseyflow has prepared two videos to demonstrate how the sticker should be installed in a car, and a separate leaflet that outlines the process.
The stickers are approximately three-anda-half inches by one inch in size, and feature a microchip that is read by the Merseyflow gantry every time a vehicle travels underneath it.
The sticker should be placed with the bar code facing into a vehicle.
Residents can register at the walk-in centre at 9 Howard Court, Manor Park, Runcorn.
A temporary registration service is also being run at the Halton Direct Link on Brook Street in Widnes until the end of August.
Blue Badge holders will also be able to register for unlimited travel on the bridges after providing copies of the front and back of their badge and paying a one-off £5 admin fee.
For more information and to register call 01928 878 878 or visit www.merseyflow.co.uk