Toll bridge firm to tackle five-month fine delays

The operator of a toll bridge has agreed to change the way it issues fines after some drivers received penalty notices up to five months after crossing.

Tolls were previously collected in person at Warburton Toll Bridge near Warrington, Cheshire, before an online payment system was introduced in December, when the charge increased from 12p to £1.

Charlotte Nichols MP said the bridge's operator, the Peel Ports-owned Manchester Ship Canal Company, had investigated the issue and agreed that toll charges should be issued within five days.

The company said: "We believe this will provide much greater clarity for road users and help prevent the confusion caused by delayed correspondence."

Nichols said: "While I welcome the improvements, I don't believe that these changes address the full concerns of constituents, and I will continue to press for fairer treatment in how the bridge operates."

Motorists have complained about the bridge's payment and enforcement system, with some receiving fines months after they crossed.

The bridge, which was built in 1890, spans the River Mersey and links Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are used to monitor the crossing, with drivers asked to pay the £1 toll online by midnight the day after they use the bridge.

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