Motorists are facing more parking fines

Apr 15 2009 By Amy Hunt, The Journal

Tyne Tunnel plan is 'travesty'

PLANS to expand a toll road on Tyneside’s busiest route have been dismissed as a “travesty” for motorists.

North Tyneside mayor John Harrison is in talks with Tyne Tunnel bosses to either extend the toll road up to the busy A19 Coast Road roundabout or extend the toll period on the tunnel to pay for essential upgrades.

Mr Harrison has been forced to consider using Tyne Tunnel cash to pay for the upgrades because the Highways Agency has refused to speed up improvements along the vital route. But last night his Conservative opposition candidate for this June’s mayoral elections, Linda Arkley, said Mr Harrison had missed “chance after chance” to solve the problems.

She said: “If you ask anyone who uses this road at any point over the last 10 years they would have told you we need improvements here.

“And 10 years ago John Prescott made promises to provide cash for flyovers and all sorts of improvements and that never came.

“So because the Labour party failed to give us what we promised John Harrison is now looking for people in North Tyneside to pay for it? That is totally unacceptable and very unfair.”

The RAC has also called on Mr Harrison to think again about the toll changes. A spokesman told The Journal: “Once again it looks like the motorists are going to be asked to fork out extra, this time for road improvements that should be funded through the £49bn they pay in road taxes each year.”

Mr Harrison said the region is faced with choosing between introducing a new toll or waiting over a decade for Government funds.