Registration for www.merseyflow.co.uk opens on Monday 17th July.
From 8am on Monday 17th July you will be able to register for the merseyflow tolling system that will operate on the new Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges.
Merseyflow and Halton Council are urging people to register online as quickly as possible to ensure they don’t get caught in a last minute rush when the new bridge opens in the autumn.
Registering with merseyflow is the only way to get discounts or, if you qualify, free travel across the new bridge and the Silver Jubilee Bridge.
From the morning of 17th July anyone can visit www.merseyflow.co.uk and sign up for the merseyflow account that is right for them.
Signing-up online is the easiest way to register, but the locally based walk-in centre and the call-centre will also open at that point so anyone who wants to register in person or by phone will be able to do so.
Anyone who is eligible for the Halton residents’ discount scheme must register and pay their £10 annual fee in order to claim their free trips.
People will also be able to register for a pre-pay account, monthly pass or Blue Badge holder pass from next month, all of which give discounts on the full unregistered toll fee.
The free-flow tolling system will mean journeys across the Mersey in Halton will be quicker, easier and more reliable, because drivers won’t need to stop or use a toll booth bucket.
It will still be possible to cross the bridge without registering but, if you do, you will have to pay the full unregistered toll fee which is £2 per car per crossing, with additional charges for larger vehicles.
Anthony Alicastro, who is Chief Executive Officer of Emovis Operations (Mersey) Limited., a wholly owned subsidiary of emovis, which runs the merseyflow operation, said demand for registration is expected to be high as we approach the opening of the bridge, and urged people to register as soon as they can after 17th July, to avoid delays.
He said: “We’ve had a lot of enquiries from people wanting to know when they can register, so it is good to be able to confirm 17th July as our registration date. From 17th July you will be able to register to use the brand new Mersey Gateway Bridge, and – once refurbished – the Silver Jubilee Bridge.”
“If anyone isn’t sure what this means for them, I would encourage them to visit www.merseyflow.co.uk and look at all the detail there about different registration options to make sure they don’t miss out. Whilst there will be a range of ways to sign up, we’d like to encourage people to register using the merseyflow website, as this will be the quickest method.”
David Parr, Chief Executive of Halton Borough Council said: “Anyone who wants to be ready to benefit from the improved connectivity and reduced journey times provided by the Mersey Gateway Bridge should sign up from Monday, 17th July.
“To provide everyone with plenty of time to sign up, registration is starting well ahead of the bridge opening in autumn this year,”
“It’s also really important that eligible Halton residents register in order to get the special discount deal the council has been able to fund for local people.
“It’s inevitable that there will be a last minute rush to register, so the best thing to do is sign up as early as possible so you don’t have to worry about doing this in the autumn.”
To be eligible for the Halton residents’ discount scheme, you must:
- Hold a valid UK drivers licence showing your address in Halton
- Live in Halton in a property with a council tax band of A-F
- Have a vehicle (a car or a small van) registered in your name on the V5C vehicle registration document
All three documents must have the same address in Halton.
How to register
To make the registration process as easy as possible there will be a range of sign up methods available, however registering on the merseyflow website – www.merseyflow.co.uk – will be the fastest method.
You can also register in person at merseyflow’s new walk-in centre, which will open soon in Runcorn.
Or register by telephone. If you choose to register over the phone, eligible Halton residents and Blue Badge holders will then need to email copies of your documents to merseyflow.
If you’re an eligible Halton resident and would like to register online, here’s what you need to do:
- Take photographs or scan copies of your driving licence, your council tax bill and your vehicle registration document (the red and green V5C form) to prove you are eligible.
- Visit merseyflow.co.uk, click on ‘Register Now’ and select ‘Halton residents’ account. Complete the registration process and upload the photographs/scans.
- Pay the annual £10 administration fee. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email and your special merseyflow sticker will be sent through the post.
- Display your merseyflow sticker in your vehicle, following the instructions provided.
If you’re a Blue Badge holder, and would like to register online, here’s what you need to do:
- Scan or take a photograph of both sides of your blue badge to prove you are eligible.
- Visit merseyflow.co.uk, click on ‘Register Now’ and select ‘Blue Badge holder’ account. Complete the registration process and upload a copy of both sides of your blue badge.
- Pay the £5 one-off registration fee. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email and your special merseyflow sticker will be sent through the post.
- Display your merseyflow sticker in your vehicle, following the instructions provided.
If you live outside Halton and would like to register for a pre-pay account, here’s what you need to do:
- Visit merseyflow.co.uk, click on ‘Register Now’ and select ‘Pre-pay’ account. Complete the registration process, entering all details as required.
- Pay the £5 one-off registration fee for each vehicle you register. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email and your special merseyflow sticker will be sent through the post.
Display your merseyflow sticker in your vehicle, following the instructions provided
The new bridge is scheduled to open in autumn 2017. When the new bridge opens the Silver Jubilee Bridge will be closed to road traffic for up to 12 months while it is refurbished.
During this time the Silver Jubilee Bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists.
