Lib Dems pledge to scrap Severn Bridge toll THE Liberal Democrats will today pledge to scrap the Severn Bridge toll charges as part of their general election manifesto. Bristol West MP Stephen Williams will today reveal that a future Lib Dem government would put an end to the charges once the bridges return to public ownership, expected to take place in 2017/2018. Speaking to the Post ahead of the announcement, Mr Williams laid out the expected benefits for Bristol. The reason that Im involved with this, as well as the Welsh MPs is because the Welsh and Bristol economies are closely intertwined, he said. Lots of people in Bristol travel to Cardiff for work. I know of many Bristol-based actors and filmmakers, for instance – including in my own constituency in Bristol West – who cross the border where they head to work for BBC Wales in the corporations Drama Village in Cardiff Bay. While the BBC has its own home in Bristol, including its Natural History Unit, BBC Cardiff and ITV Cardiff provide other sources of income for many of these people. Welsh residents who commute to Bristol primarily have jobs in the local banking and insurance sector, as well as a substantial number who work at the Aztec West international Business Park located near the M4/M5 interchange. So the fact that we have a Severnside economy in terms of travel-to-work areas, thats one of the reasons we are in favour of getting rid of the charges. Tourism is another reason behind the partys commitment to end the charges. Mr Williams said potential day visitors were put off by the toll fees, which were like a major mental barrier. Mr Williams, who is Welsh but has lived in Bristol since his university days, said: Lots of people stay in Bristol and Bath. And yet, just across the border in Wales, less than an hours drive away, you have wonderful sites like Tintern Abbey, Chepstow Castle, not to mention Cardiff itself. The toll charges are a major mental barrier for some people who would otherwise make the crossing to visit for the day. The toll charges would be lifted once the current concession comes to an end. Opened in 1966 and 1996 respectively, the two bridges between England and Wales are operated by the Severn River Crossing company, in which French company Vinci Concessions owns a 35 per cent stake. Responsibility and ownership of the bridges will be returned to the UK Government once takings from the tolls reach £996 million at 1989 prices. Mr Williams will this morning meet with a number of Welsh MPs including Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Lib Dems, and former business minister Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central. They will gather at the Avomouth Services at Junction 1 of the M48 at 8am. Mr Williams said: This pledge to scrap the tolls will form part of our Lib Dem manifesto and is unique to the Severn Bridge. Other than the M6 Toll in Birmingham, the Severn Bridge is the only section of the national motorway network that doesnt belong to the state and that people have to pay to access. He added: The decision to remove the charge will mean maintenance costs will then need to be met through taxation. At present, toll charges vary from £6.40 for smaller vehicles carrying up to nine passengers, to £19.20 for larger vehicles weighing more than 3,500kg. Together, the M4 and M48 bridges carry about 80,000 vehicles every day.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 11:00:01 +0000
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