Drivers face 20% VAT hike at toll bridge from Friday

Motorists will be hit with a 20% VAT hike on the Westlink toll bridge from Friday.

Now Fine Gael has urged the National Toll Roads body to give something back to motorists in January by rounding down the new Euro charge from€1.27 to €1.20 rather than hitting drivers with a further increase by rounding the tariff upwards.

"Delays at the Toll Plaza are increasing to such an extent that one begins to wonder why motorists don’t save a few bob and sit in an ordinary traffic jam instead," said Senator Therese Ridge today.

"Legislation allows the company to round down as well as up and motorists deserve a break. NTR should charge €1.20 rather than€1.30 in January.

"At the moment it can take up to 20 minutes to cross the river at Westlink. The slogan ‘Across the Liffey in a Jiffy’ is well and truly redundant," she added.