Archive - Tuesday, 1 January 2008


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Scrap severn Bridge tolls - AM

A GWENT AM is calling for tolls on the Severn crossings to be scrapped following the latest New Year rise.

The toll goes up from £5.10 to £5.30 for cars with effect from today (January 1).

Liberal Democrat AM for Wales South east, Mike German, claims drivers have already paid for the cost of the second Severn crossing - opened in 1996 - twice over.

Assembly figures show the cash collected on both bridges into Wales from 1996 to 2006 was £684m.

The Second Severn crossing, which was completed in 1996, cost £300m to build.

But the operators said toll rises are strictly complying with legislation.

Mr German, who has obtained the figures from the National Assembly library, said the charges for motorists on the M4 crossing into Wales should be scrapped.

The first bridge, which carries the M48, opened in 1966 and is currently the subject of £20m maintenance work to stop corrosion.

Under the Severn Bridges Act 1992, when the tolls reach £1bn in 1989 prices, the bridge reverts to public ownership.

Mr German said this is when tolls should be abolished.

"The government could then decide to scrap the tolls and put the Welsh economy on an equal footing with its neighbours in and around Bristol," he added.

Severn River Crossing general manager Jim Clune said: "Severn River Crossing amends the tolls at the start of each year in strict compliance with the Severn Bridges Act 1992 and upon an order from the secretary of state."

  • The toll will rise: Cars: £5.10 to £5.30, small goods vehicles and small buses will from £10.20 to £10.60 and heavy goods vehicles and buses from £15.30 to £15.90.

Your Say YourFree Press

Mervyn James, says...
01/01/08

If they have made £300m profit on the bridge that is obscene, they could at least fund another one, or build that barrage from Penarth to Weston which will give us electricity via tidal movements, wind farms, and a solid channel from Wales to England. It will make economic sense in the long term. Let's face it, the toll is a tax on entering and leaving Wales, not very welcome... or helping our business. Some should be made for maintenance etc, but £300m is a LOT of maintenance !

Edger, Newport says...
01/01/08

As a partner in a Light Haulage/Courier Business based in Newport,i find that we are losing out more and more because we have to pass this cost onto our customers.Our English counterparts do not have to charge this toll if they already have vehicles in the area as they cross back into England toll free! Let us play on an even field and scrap this exorbitant cost to Welsh business!
ps.Forth Road Bridge tolls are 80p !!

tim, Magor says...
01/01/08

Come on WAG the Scots are scrapping the tolls lets do the same.

tim, Magor says...
01/01/08

Edger wrote:
As a partner in a Light Haulage/Courier Business based in Newport,i find that we are losing out more and more because we have to pass this cost onto our customers.Our English counterparts do not have to charge this toll if they already have vehicles in the area as they cross back into England toll free! Let us play on an even field and scrap this exorbitant cost to Welsh business! ps.Forth Road Bridge tolls are 80p !!
And the Forth toll is to be scrapped!

Simon, Newport says...
01/01/08

Its not entirely WAG's decision to just lift tolls. They would have to buy out of the contract at a cost of £300M+ thats just on capital recoup, there is probably also a clause in the contract covering early buy out!

Governments can loan money from left and right, but when Private Finance is involved, its a whole different ball game!

Note the cash raised has to fund the maintenance of BOTH bridges, one of which is currently undergoing high profile works, which are likely to cost more with time!

As for Road haulage between S Wales and England, I wholly disagree, and would rather see the loads carried by rail not on roads at all!