WESTMINSTER could still be collecting tolls to recoup costs of the Severn bridges until 2027, a Plaid Cymru MP has warned. The UK Government has up to another nine years to recoup its costs on the Severn Bridge crossings after they return to public ownership, according to a Freedom of Information request by the party. The revelation came yesterday, with tolls going up on the Severn Bridge from today. Car drivers will now pay an extra 10p taking the toll to £6.50 while heavy goods vehicle and bus drivers will have to pay £19.60, up 40p. There are also rises for small goods vehicles and small buses. The UK Highways Agency, said in response to the information request: “Severn River Crossing (SRC) is entitled to collect a defined sum from the tolls (£1,028.9m in July 1989 prices) and the current forecasts indicate that this sum will be recouped in 2018. “After this time, the crossings will be handed back to the Government. No decisions have been made regarding the future of the Severn bridges. From this point onwards, government has the right to recoup its own costs from the construction, maintenance and management of the bridge until 2027. This would be for costs that fall outside of the scope of the current concession for example costs incurred for cable corrosion work. “Based on a continuation of current arrangements it is expected to take one to two years to recover this money, however, the exact nature of that regime has yet to be determined.” Plaid Cymru’s Westminster transport spokesperson, Jonathan Edwards MP, said: “While the crossings are likely to revert to public ownership by 2018, the UK Government will still have the right to recoup its costs. This right lasts until 2027. Under current tolls it would take one to two years for the Government to recoup its costs but at the moment it is deliberately keeping its intentions hidden.” “The Government needs to come clean on its plans after 2018 and whether it intends to keep charging up to 2027 and beyond.” The MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr said: “A Plaid Cymru Government would reduce the tolls to around £2 (under today’s prices) to cover maintenance, staff costs and contingencies. Eliminating the tolls altogether would be kept under review and would depend on costs.” The Highways Agency has listed spending on work on main cable corrosion on the first Severn crossing as £5,272,000 between 2010-11 and 2014-15. Then in the following three financial years the project spending costs will be another £4,767,000 from next April through to 2017-18. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have vowed to scrap the Severn tolls in their manifesto. A Department for Transport spokesman said: “No decisions will be taken on the future management of the crossings until we reach the end of the current arrangement. We will continue to discuss future plans with the Welsh government..
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 18:55:58 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015