Campaign swells for tollbooth change (From Free Press Series)

Campaign swells for tollbooth change

AN ON-LINE campaign launched just one week ago in protest of cash-only tollbooths on the Severn Bridges has attracted hundreds of supporters.

The Severn Bridge Tolls: Ditch Cash Only' campaign group, on the social networking site Facebook, is growing by around 100 new supporters a day. Among those already signed up are several Assembly members, MPs and local politicians on both sides of the Severn.

Michael German AM helped launch the campaign last week, saying he is primarily using electronic means to get the message out that cash-only tolls at the bridges have "had their day and are completely customer unfriendly".

Speaking today, he added: "By harnessing the power of the internet, this campaign will reach people faster and further than by traditional means. The internet will reach people in a way that would not be possible otherwise."

The campaign is been organised by two local councillors - Veronica Watkins from Newport and Monmouthshire's Phil Hobson. They revealed that the idea came after seeing a 5,000-strong group force HSBC to climb down over introducing new charges on students' accounts.

Cllr Watkins said: "We saw and read what happened, looked at how it was done and decided to launch our own campaign. We also wanted to reach people we say that politics doesn't interest them."

Cllr Hobson, who lives in Chepstow and is a regular bridge-user, added: "In 2001 a report said that there was no public demand for this change. And in six years, nothing has happened."

Mr German has also filed a Statement of Opinion at the National Assembly calling for his colleagues' support.