TUNNEL tolls could help pay for a £60m funding shortfall for the controversial Merseytram.
Sources close to the ailing light rail scheme have confirmed they are considering the move but will not raise the tolls to help pay for the £500m network.
Merseyside's five authorities have been involved in talks to save the scheme since the government said it could not sign a blank cheque.
Wirral council today opposed moves to use tunnel money and said it would be unable to support any package where it was required.
Merseytravel is still waiting to find out whether the government will change its mind and contribute £170m towards building line one between Liverpool city centre and Kirkby.
Wirral council leader Cllr Steve Foulkes said: "Clearly we were not expecting this situation to arise because we expected the tram to be funded by the government.
"We have attempted to put togethera package which all Merseyside councils can support so the government can be
sure the money is there.
"We have made it clear that if using tunnel money was the only way to make the tram happen, it would lose our support.
"But this is not a case of Wirral trying to stop the tram, because we have been open about our views right from the start."
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