THE Severn Crossings could be back in public ownership as early as autumn next year, Monmouth’s MP has said.

David Davies has said he thinks the M4 Second Severn Crossing and the M48 Severn Bridge, which both run in and out of Monmouthshire, could return to government control by October or November 2017.

That would be at least six months ahead of schedule, with them due to return to public ownership in April 2018 when debts have been paid to current operators Severn River Crossing (SRC) plc.

But the Conservative MP, who led a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of the tolls in 2010, thinks the handover could be reached earlier. He has written to transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, urging a detailed handover plan is published.

Mr Davies said: “Changes to corporation tax and an increase in traffic due to low fuel prices mean that the sum promised to SRC will inevitably be paid months earlier than expected.

“I believe it could happen as soon as October or November 2017, so we have less than two years to put a proper plan in place.”

Mr Davies added he thinks government ownership would see an “immediate removal” of VAT applied to the tolls. Under EU rules the tax could not be applied to something state owned.

He added the Welsh Affair Committee, of which he is the chairman, will be pressing for more information over the handover date.