The introduction of a new digital toll system on the Warburton Toll Bridge, linking Cheshire and Greater Manchester, has led to widespread confusion and numerous complaints from drivers. The bridge, in operation for over 160 years, replaced its traditional manned toll booths with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras in November last year. Alongside this change, the toll fee increased from 12p to £1.

Nicola Hardy, a 51-year-old deputy manager from Hyde, Greater Manchester, was among those caught off guard by the new system. Hardy received a penalty notice months after an alleged crossing, with poor-quality images of a vehicle she does not recognise. She had not previously been aware of the Warburton Toll Bridge and was surprised to be fined £176 by a debt collection agency for non-payment. Hardy’s case is one example among many, with reports of over 138,000 alleged non-compliant crossings recorded since the system’s implementation this year.

Kenneth Hampton, a 96-year-old from Northwich, Cheshire, also faced significant difficulties. Diagnosed with stage four cancer, Hampton regularly crossed the bridge to visit family and believed his blue badge exempted him from the toll under the new digital regime. However, he was unaware that he needed to link the blue badge to an app to qualify for the exemption. Following multiple crossings without payment, Hampton received initial toll charge notices from Excel Parking, the operator of the tolls, followed by debt collection demands that accumulated fines exceeding £800. After media inquiries, Excel Parking cancelled the fines against Hampton.

Concerns about incorrectly issued fines have been brought to the attention of Connor Rand, the Labour MP for Altrincham & Sale West, whose office has received hundreds of complaints from constituents. The MP highlighted the difficulties faced by users of the bridge since the toll system change, emphasizing the impact on vulnerable individuals like Hampton.

Peel Ports, which owns the Warburton Toll Bridge, maintains that there is no evidence of systemic issues with the new payment system. The company reported that only 0.43 percent of daily crossings—out of roughly 9,000—have led to successful appeals against fines, suggesting the majority of charges issued are legitimate. Peel Ports and Excel Parking have pledged to continue investigating individual cases and to implement improvements where necessary.

Excel Parking Services added that their review found no evidence of faults in the operation of the payment and enforcement systems. They stated that all concerns are examined on a case-by-case basis to ensure accuracy and fairness.

The transition to an entirely digital toll system at Warburton Bridge has exposed challenges relating to communication, exemptions, and enforcement, prompting ongoing scrutiny and calls for greater clarity to prevent further disputes.