11:30am Tuesday 1st January 2008
By South Wales Argus Newsdesk
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."
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