Politicians call for price freeze (From Free Press Series)

Politicians call for price freeze

WITH Severn Bridge tolls set to rise to £5.50 next year, a leading member of the Welsh Assembly asked for the increase to be cancelled.

Saying that the new rise would be a "severe blow to commuters and the Welsh Economy", Michael German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and long-time Severn Bridge Tolls campaigner, believes that the toll increases will be a "hammer blow" to the economies of Wales, the Forest of Dean and to regular users.

Mr German, speaking from the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, said: "This rise in the cost of coming into Wales and crossing the Severn is a real hammer blow to commuters who use this stretch of the motorway on a regular basis.

"Particularly as by January, when the increase kicks in, we are being told inflation will be going down at a very fast rate and we're being warned about the danger of deflation."

However, Mr German maintains that the increase in tolls could be postponed for 2009. He has written to the Minister for Transport in London asking for the annual toll increase to be cancelled.

He added: "The Labour UK government is making grand statements on the need to help the country through this economic downturn. I am asking that they now give a real helping hand and give us a welcome New Year's present."

Local councillors in Chepstow are backing Mr German's calls.

Jacqui Sullivan, a Monmouthshire County Councillor in Chepstow, said that many residents face paying the tolls on a daily basis: "Many people here commute to work in Bristol and this increase will add another £1 a week just to get to work. That's a lot in the course of a year."

Fellow Chepstow County Councillor, Phil Hobson, the Liberal Democrats' general election candidate for Monmouthshire, added: "The whole issue of the tolls just places a real burden on people here. It's a real barrier.

"Like many people, I do think twice before crossing the bridge."

Bearing in mind those who need to go to work, Mr Hobson added that he believed that local residents and regular users should get a discount: "This was recently introduced on the Dartford Crossing over the Thames. We should have the same here."