VETERAN Newport West MP Paul Flynn is to call for tolls on the two Severn bridges to be abolished altogether in Parliament today, Thursday.

Last week the UK Government announced plans to slash tolls on the bridges by more than 50 per cent once they pass back into public ownership.

But long-serving Labour MP Mr Flynn will table an Early Day Motion in Parliament this morning calling for the charges to be scrapped entirely.

The motion reads: "That this house is appalled at the plan to continue the double taxation suffered for 52 years by users of the Severn bridges by paying tolls in addition to taxes to fund the UK roads network, welcomes the end of the obligation to a private company and believes that the bridges should in future be financed in the same way as almost all other parts of the motorway system with all maintenance and debt costs financed nationally."

It continues: "Questions the legality of new tolls and believes the bridges should not be used unfairly as cash cows and calls for toll-free crossings that will remove a psychological barrier to accessibility and boost beneficially the economic prospects on both sides of the Severn."

A consultation into the UK Government's plans is running at smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ICS1O.