Calls grow for ‘more ethical’ charging system at Tunnel

NORTH Tyneside Conservative councillors have added their voices to calls for changes to be made to the Tyne Tunnel’s charging system.

The crossing made the switch to a cashless system in November, meaning drivers can no longer pay at toll plazas using cash or a bank card – and must instead use either a prepaid account or pay online after their journeys.

The change has sparked a backlash from users, who have complained the system has been littered with errors that have resulted in people being incorrectly slapped with heavy fines and pursued by bailiffs.

Almost 11,000 people have put their name to a petition demanding a rethink, including slashing the cost of penalties for non-payment and increasing the length of time people have to pay their toll fee.

The petition, started by Gary Spedding, calls for an “ethical system” that would “ensure penalty charges are not being used to harm ordinary working-class individuals and families”.

The council’s Conservative group has proposed a motion calling for reform to the system.

If the motion is passed the authority would call tunnel operator TT2 Limited to cancel all unpaid toll charges issued in the six months to January 1, 2022.

The operator would also be asked to increase the time period in which people can pay for their journeys from 48 hours to five working days. TT2 would also be told to “engage in a concerted advertising campaign to ensure people are fully aware of how the Tyne Tunnel now works and encourage frequent travellers to sign up for a prepaid account.”

The Tories also want North Tyneside Council to tell tunnel bosses to scrap the current penalty charge system and replace it with a “more ethical structure.”

The Conservatives say that those who miss their deadline to pay should receive an initial fine of no more than £20, which should be reduced to £5 if paid within 14 days of the date the fine was generated.

The motion said: “These amounts are more ethical and affordable to the average user of the Tyne Tunnel – many of whom come from working-class backgrounds or may be suffering hardship.

“If paying a penalty charge then the original ‘toll fare’ should be taken out of the fine paid so that people are not being charged extra. If a person fails to pay the initial £20 fine within 28 days, it should rise to no more than £40 and only after a period of 42 days should this be passed to a debt collection agency where ‘additional administrative charges’ of no more than a further £25 should be added.”

Finally, the motion calls for TT2 to review its appeals process and “produce clear guidance that is publicly available on what the policies of TT2 Limited are, what the toll prices are and the penalty charge procedures, ensuring that each individual case is considered carefully and with sensitivity.”

North Tyneside councillors will vote on the motion at a meeting of the council on Thursday.

The Chronicle has approached TT2 for comment.