A NEW Direct Debit payment scheme for the Mersey Gateway has been announced to help Halton residents use the bridge.

Merseyflow is rolling out a new way for eligible Halton residents to renew their annual Local User Discount Scheme (LUDS) plan.

Halton residents who want to benefit can update their plan to select paying by Direct Debit and choosing auto renew.

They will then be able to renew annually with:

• no need to upload their council tax, V5C and driving licence documents every year (unless they move house, change their vehicle or bank account)

• no need to update your payment card details when it expires

As a result, their annual renewal will be much easier, and they will have much less chance of getting a fine.

Neil Conway, chief executive of merseyflow, said: “We’ve introduced this new and very easy renewal option for Halton residents who have a vehicle with an annual merseyflow LUDS plan because we wanted to make things simpler and easier for them.

"The vast majority of our 46,000 Halton residents with LUDS plans don’t move house or change their vehicle or bank account every year, so by making this switch today, it will make their whole renewal process much easier.”

Mike Bennett, managing director of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, said: “The £10 annual LUDS plan for eligible Halton residents is excellent value and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to work with merseyflow to bring in this new system which makes it easier for Halton residents to renew their annual plans.

"I’d recommend making the switch now to all Halton residents with a LUDS plan.”