ONCE upon a time, it was easy to spot highwaymen. They rode horses, wore masks, carried pistols and uttered the words ‘stand and deliver’.

Basically, a highwayman was a robber who stole from travellers.

These robbers operated in Britain from the Elizabethan era until the early 19th century. But if you thought highway robbery had been consigned to the pages of the history books, think again.

Instead of wearing masks and carrying pistols, today’s highwaymen have glossy websites and charge you to make a journey that has been free for as long as most can remember.

I refer, of course, to the toll charges to cross the new Mersey Gateway bridge and the Silver Jubilee bridge across the Mersey.

Instead of ‘stand and deliver’ we now have “Our free-flow tolling system means we won’t have toll booths along the route, which will help reduce journey times and minimise congestion.”

Now I was the first to applaud when the decision was made to build another crossing across the Mersey.

As it began to take shape and became a reality, we all became a little more aware of the implications the new bridge would bring.

Not only would we have a pay a toll to cross it, we would also have to pay to cross the old Silver Jubilee bridge as well.

That sticks in the craw and provides my first bone of contention.

Why should we, the great British motoring public of the north west have to pay to cross a bridge – a major arterial route – that has always been free to use? It just doesn’t seem right or fair to me.

Which brings me on to my second bone of contention.

We were promised that residents of areas neighbouring Runcorn and Widnes – including Warrington – would be treated exactly the same as residents of Halton.

What that would have meant was that once you had registered with Merseyflow – the company managing the two Mersey bridges – you would have had free use of the bridges without having to pay any fees.

And who made that promise? Former MP George Osborne when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Call me cynical but it comes as no surprise he made the announcement in the run up to the 2015 election.

Think back a couple of years. Pollsters were forecasting a very close run election in 2015 and with Warrington South a potentially marginal seat, the promise of free travel over the Mersey bridges was a tasty carrot.

As it turned out, the Conservatives swept to power with a surprise majority.

And just as quickly as free Mersey crossings were promised, that promise vanished.

So what will it cost non-Halton residents to use the bridges?

The standard fare for a car is £2 one way but you can pay Merseyflow a £5 registration fee and top up your account with a further £30 which Merseyflow will use if you cross the bridge.

Or you can pay £90 a month for unlimited crossings or £60 a month for off-peak crossings.

But be careful, be very careful if you don’t register with Merseyflow and still want to use the bridge.

There aren’t any toll booths and an ANPR system will collect your car’s registration number. It’s then up to you to seek out Merseyflow and pay your toll fees.

And what happens if I don’t pay or forget to pay in time?

According to the Merseyflow website: “If you don’t pay, or if you forget to pay in time, you will be issued with a penalty notice of up to £60.”

Yes folks, £60 (those highwaymen are alive and well).

And don’t think you have much of a period of grace to make the payment.

You will have to pay by midnight the day after you cross the bridge or you will be issued with a penalty notice of up to £60.

So, for example, if you crossed the bridge on a Monday morning you would have until 11.59pm on Tuesday night to pay the toll fee.

Just imagine the situation. You live in Appleton and you, your wife and three kids are on your way to Liverpool Airport for your two weeks in the sun.

You’re running a little late and the kids are playing up a bit. Yes, you see the signs as you approach the Mersey Gateway (which has a 60mph speed limit so you’re not hanging around) but you really want to make that flight.

When you get to the airport just in time to check in, you’ve got other things on your mind.

And then it’s happy days full of sun, sea and entertaining the children.

Oh what a shock you’ll have when you get back, opening that letter from Merseyflow complete with £60 fine.

Let’s hope you haven’t spent all your money on sangria and stuffed donkeys.