Severn Bridge tolls

[whole diary]

[inspector_blakey]

You either drive a Noddy-style pedal car with an exceedingly light foot, or you haven't seen the price of fuel recently

I actually got stiffed by a toll collector at Christmas - hadn't read the sign on the way to the bridge with current tolls, remembered it being in the upper-five-pound range last time I went through so handed the cashier GBP 7.00 in cash to be on the safe side. Got 30p change back and only spotted as I was pulling away the little screen that said GBP 5.70 paid, thank you. Didn't think it was really worth slamming on the anchors ad reversing into the car behind for the sake of a pound at that point. :/

[JayMac]

Well, it was Christmas. Perhaps the toll collector though the extra quid was a tip!

[inspector_blakey]

That had never even occurred to me before now but you may even be right...!

Ironic really, as highway toll booths are one of the only places where you don't end up tipping staff in America

[Btline]

That's appalling! You should ring the Daily Mail newline, I'm sure they'd love this.

"Tolls go up and man is OVERCHARGED" (accompanied by a photo of Inspector B sitting in his car frowning holding his hand out)

[inspector_blakey]

That's a fantastic idea! 

[devon_metro]

Alternatively contact btline, resident Daily Mail reporter

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Severn bridges: Longer deal allows company to collect extra ^33m

Tolls on the Severn bridges are likely to continue at their current level for longer than expected after a new deal with the company which charges the fee.

Severn River Crossing plc has been told it can run both bridges until it has taken an extra ^33m, up to ^1.02bn.

The bridges are expected to pass into public ownership by 2017, and MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) have said tolls should then be cut heavily.

Newspaper reports claim that will mean a delay of five months before the company loses its right to the tolls.

The Highways Agency said the date the deal will end would depend on factors such as traffic levels.

The Western Mail has reported that current income levels would mean that the company would run the bridges between south Wales and England for five months longer than currently scheduled.

The newspaper also quoted the company as saying it had been in talks with the agency over issues which have affected profitability, such as a higher VAT^▸ (Value Added Tax) element of the overall toll.

The agency confirmed that it had agreed a settlement in principle "which reflects recent tax changes and the costs of introducing card payments at the tolls".

A spokeswoman said: "The extension to the concession allows for a longer tolling period, as it is the additional toll revenue of ^33m which finances the settlement".

She said while the company's concession was limited by law to a maximum of 30 years, the actual end date will be when it has collected a set sum of ^1,028.9m.

"This will extend the end of the concession period but the actual date is dependent on a number of factors, including traffic levels," she said.

'Minimise impact'

The agency said it had considered a number of options for the company, including a cash payment, and a rise in tolls.

But it said it "opted for an extension to the concession so as to minimise the impact".

Severn River Crossing is responsible both for the original crossing, which opened in 1966, and the second bridge, built in 1996.

In 2010 the Welsh Affairs Select Committee recommended that drivers should pay as little as ^1.50 to use the bridges from 2017.

At present, the fee for cars is ^6. Larger vehicles pay ^12.10 and ^18.10 respectively.

The bridges are owned by the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) government, but the Welsh government is looking at the impact of tolls on Wales' economy, with a full report expected to be published later this spring.

The Welsh government wants to take control of the bridges when the contract ends. While it has said it would not scrap the tolls, it has indicated that it might be able to reduce them.

Tolls on the bridges go up every year, based on the Retail Price Index.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Severn Bridge tolls to be increased in January 2015


The cost of crossing the Severn Bridge will rise on 1 January 2015

The toll to cross the Severn Bridge and Second Severn Crossing into Wales will increase again next year.

From 1 January, cars will have to pay ^6.50 - up from the current ^6.40 - while small goods vehicles and small buses face a 30p rise to ^13.10, and heavy goods vehicles and buses will have to pay ^19.60, up from ^19.20.

Bridge owners Severn River Crossing PLC increase the cost every January in line with the Retail Price Index.

Calls have been made to cut the toll.

More than 25 million vehicles use the two bridges each year.

Funds from the tolls are used to pay the construction costs of the bridges.

The Liberal Democrats vowed the get rid of the tolls if they are in government after the 2015 general election.

Erm ... "The Liberal Democrats vowed the get rid of the tolls if they are in government after the 2015 general election" is shocking English from the BBC. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Post:

Two Severn Bridges are now the most most expensive stretches of road in the world


Severn Bridges

The two crossings over the Bristol Channel are among the two most expensive stretches of road anywhere in the world according to campaigners.

The claim has come as the annual increase in the toll for using the two bridges is due to come into force.

Motorists crossing into Wales on the M4 will have to pay ^6.50 if they are travelling in a car. The toll has increased by 10 pence for car users.

The charge for small goods vehicles and small buses face a 30p rise to ^13.10, and heavy goods vehicles and buses will have to pay ^19.60, up from ^19.20.

The Campaign Against Severn Tolls (CAST) said the increase makes the toll one of the most expensive per mile and claim the charges holding back economic growth in the region.

A spokesman said: ^Tolls for the Severn Bridge rise in line with inflation every year and are strictly regulated by the Severn Bridges Act 1992.^

Meanwhile a spokesman for CAST organiser said: ^The new year Severn toll bridge increases make it one of the most expensive bridge crossings in the world per mile.

"Because of these tolls new business opportunities to invest in Wales could be lost, and it will stunt the growth to the economy in our country. They will also be a bitter blow to the haulage and tourism industry.^

Bridge owners Severn River Crossing PLC said it increases the cost every January in line with the Retail Price Index.

More than 25 million vehicles use the two bridges each year and money raised from the tolls are used to cover the costs of the bridges.

The Liberal Democrats have vowed the get rid of the tolls if they are in government following next May^s election.

Erm ... those last three paragraphs in the Bristol Post article are remarkably similar to the text in the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) item posted above - including the rather mangled grammar.  Plagiarism by the Bristol Post?  Surely not?? 

[ellendune]

Erm ... those last three paragraphs in the Bristol Post article are remarkably similar to the text in the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) item posted above - including the rather mangled grammar.  Plagiarism by the Bristol Post?  Surely not?? 

I suspect if you found the press release from the Campaign Against Severn Tolls (CAST) you wouyld find those mangled phrases come from the same single source. 

[LiskeardRich]

The Liberal Democrats have vowed the get rid of the tolls if they are in government following next May^s election.

This isn't going to happen so is a pointless last line to waste space in the paper!

[Chris from Nailsea]

I suspect if you found the press release from the Campaign Against Severn Tolls (CAST) you wouyld find those mangled phrases come from the same single source. 

To be fair to CAST, their website is commendably accurate in grammar and spelling, and I can find no evidence of them being responsible for those mangled phrases. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Severn crossings £3 toll plan from UK^▸ (United Kingdom) government

Cars, vans and small buses will pay just £3 in tolls when the Severn crossings go into public ownership around 2018, under UK government plans.

The proposed reduction is more than previously suggested, and is less than half the current £6.70 charge for cars.

Ministers are also seeking views on the introduction of a two-way "free-flow", barrier free charging system on the crossings.

A consultation is being launched on the proposals on Friday.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: "The future toll prices announced today will not only guarantee the future and safety of the crossings for generations to come but will also boost the economy whilst offering the best value for money for motorists and the taxpayer."

Baroness Randerson, Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman and a former AM, said the proposals do "not go far enough".

She said: "Why should people using this bridge to pay for its upkeep when they already pay for road repairs through the tax system, just as users of other motorways do?"



Proposals on the tolls were detailed in a letter from the UK government to AMs and Welsh MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament)

The news was detailed in a letter from Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns and UK Transport Minister John Hayes to AMs and Welsh MPs.

If a two-way "free-flow" charging system is also brought in, it would see the removal of toll barriers, with cameras being used to detect cars crossing the bridges, and tolls would be charged both ways.

It could also mean a toll of £1.50 each way for cars, vans and small buses, and £5 for larger vehicles.

The letter said the consultation would set out both the advantages and disadvantages of introducing such a system, which is already in use to enforce the London congestion charge.

"We understand the importance of the crossings for both the Welsh and English economies, and that they have benefitted both Welsh and English road users for 50 years," the ministers said in the letter.

"We believe that the approach set out in our consultation provides a sustainable approach, and a good deal for both users and the taxpayer in the decades to come."

Under the plans:
- Car tolls would be reduced from £6.70 to £3
- Vans and small buses will also pay only £3, down from £13.40
- Lorries and coaches will pay £10 instead of £20

Users of the Severn TAG cashless toll system will also see their charges reduced.

The letter said there was no intention to use the tolls for any other purpose other than to support the operation and maintenance of the bridges, and to repay the debt incurred by the UK taxpayer to fix "latent defects on the crossings".

"We can also assure you that the government will monitor toll prices closely with a view to further reductions if possible in future," it said.

Welsh Transport Secretary Ken Skates reiterated the Welsh Government's calls for the tolls to be scrapped once the Severn bridges revert to public ownership.

"We will continue to lobby the UK government for this," he said.

[TonyK]

I'll bet that ends up as £3 each way.

[chrisr_75]

I'll bet that ends up as £3 each way.

Alun Cairns is quoted as saying £3 return or £1.50 each way if 2 way tolling is introduced:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-38600638

We need to get to a compromise which allows us to bring about this new innovation in order to maintain the bridge in the most optimum condition as well as repay the debt.

This £1.50 each way - or £3 if you're only charging one way - strikes the balance.