Fines on Halton's toll bridges could rise by a quarter if new plans are given the green light.

The council's ruling executive board is recommended to back plans to implement new toll charges on the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges when they meet later this week.

It would see a new road user charging scheme order (RUCSO) put in place to increase tolls by 20 per cent, taking the price of a single crossing for an unregistered car from £2 to £2.40. The increase would take effect from next April.

The Mersey Gateway Bridge opened to traffic on the October 14, 2017, with The Silver Jubilee Bridge reopened to traffic in February 2020. Since then there have been 160m crossings.

The project was expected to run at a financial loss in its early years and relied on a mix of government grants and tolls charges for funding. The tolls were expected to rise in line with the retail price index, but the council said there had been no reason to raise them until now.

It added that failure to increase the tolls would mean it having to fund the shortfall itself from its own coffers.

A report to the executive board, said: "Since tolls were introduced in 2017, they (tolls) have remained unchanged and there is now a need to increase the tolls by 20 per cent to ensure that, in line with the original proposals, the
project remains financially robust without the need for additional local or central funding beyond that already agreed."

The move would also see the cost of a penalty charge notice rise from £40 (£20 if paid within 14 days) to £50.

The report added: "The purpose of the PCN is to deter non-compliance, encourage people to pay on time for their crossings and ensure fairness for those that pay for their crossings."

Motorbikes and local buses would still be able to cross the bridges free of charge. Drivers registered with toll operator Merseyflow would continue to receive discounted crossings.

Proposed changes would also see the process simplified for blue badge holders, which would require them to no longer have to register to receive an exemption - with DVLA information being used instead.

If the executive board gives the green light on Thursday, a six-week consultation will begin in November. A final recommendation will have to be signed off at a meeting of full council.