Freeze Bridge Tolls Demand 'to help Wales out of recession'

12.00.00am GMT Mon 23rd Nov 2009

Michael german calls on UK Government to freeze the Severn tolls to help Wales out of the recession

The annual increase in the tolls on the Severn bridges should be frozen for the next year says a leading member of the National Assembly in order to "help Wales out of the recession".

Welsh Liberal Democrat Michael German is campaigning for a freeze in the tolls following a UK Government decision not to allow any tolls increases on the Humber Bridge in Yorkshire until 2011.

"What is good enough for Yorkshire is good enough for Wales. Welsh residents pay the highest tolls on any bridge in the country and it's a burden that is a barrier to business in Wales. Freezing the tolls for a year will help Welsh businesses and bring a little relief to regular bridge users and commuters", said Mr. German.

During the summer permission was not granted for the Humber Bridge Board to increase tolls. The reason given by the UK Minister of State for Transport, Mr. Sadiq Khan, was that the UK Government was "committed to doing everything it can to protect communities and businesses from economic downturn and help the country recover".

The annual increase in the tolls has become a hot political potato: last year a political row broke out over the decrease in VAT not initially being passed on to bridge uses. A campaign was successful which led to a 10p decrease in the suggested annual rise.

A long time campaigner on the issue of the Severn tolls, Michael German last year lobbied the UK Transport Minister to freeze the tolls. "The UK Government certainly has the power not to increase tolls in whole or in part in any given year. All they have to do is reach an agreement with the concessionaire, Severn River Crossings plc. To do so would be a nice little early Christmas present for people in Wales."

Although based on the inflation rate, the UK Government announces the annual increase for the following year around Christmas time.

Mr. German is calling on fellow Assembly Members to back his campaign whilst also going 'live' on Facebook with a 'No Toll Increase 2010' to gather support from the public. "Here's a great opportunity for people locally to send a signal to the UK Government that Wales needs a break and a helping hand, just as they have done for Yorkshire."

Ed Townsend, Deputy Leader of Newport City Council, is backing the campaign saying "the tolls are an extra tax in businesses in Newport and Wales and take every opportunity to minimise this. The recession is damaging business in Wales and I hope the UK Government to take the opportunity to ease some of the burden by freezing the tolls as they have in Yorkshire."

Related Links:

BBC News Story: Humber Bridge Toll Freeze.

Facebook Campaign Group.

Ed Townsend, Deputy Leader of Newport City Council joins campiagn.

On-Line petition.