Severn Bridge tolls

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

As much as I detest selective road charging, a "free flow" system would be much welcomed.

I've been very happy with the Dart Charge system.  You either pay for an individual journey or have a prepay account (a bit like an Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) card but without the card).  The account gives a discount.  Even when I had a zero balance one time, the toll was still applied to my account (at the discounted price) once I topped up the following date.

Many people say it is hassle having to pay online, but I personally find this easier than having to slow down, queue then count out cash at a toll barrier.  Especially as it can be done in advance and multiple journeys paid for in one transaction.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Post:

Labour and Tories both promise to scrap tolls on Severn Bridge

Ending the toll could boost the local economy by £100 million, the Tories predict

Theresa May’s Conservatives have pledged to scrap the tolls on the Severn Crossings linking Bristol to Wales if they win the General Election.

The Prime Minister said the move – which the Tories predict will bring a £100 million boost to the local economy – will happen as soon as next year when Highways England takes over responsibility for the bridges from Severn Crossings PLC.

The policy announcement came on the day Labour unveiled their manifesto, which also pledged to "work with the Welsh government" to scrap tolls on the two crossings.

Labour's long-held Bristol East is thought to be viewed as a Tory target in this election, given the popularity of Mrs May and the collapse of UKIP's vote since the referendum.

The Severn Crossings are key routes, especially for those living in South Wales and commuting regularly to Bristol for work and leisure.

The price charged on a car or van using the crossings is £6.70 a time, but rises to £13.40 for minibuses with up to 17, double-cab pick-ups or lorries under 3,500kg. Buses with 18 seats or more, and heavy goods vehicles weighing over 3,500kg pay £20 for every crossing.

There are heavily discounted seasonal electronic tags available for purchase, however. For example, a month-long pass for a car driver is the equivalent of taking 18 individual trips across the bridges.

Mrs May, who is due to formally make the announcement later today, is expected to say: “I want to ensure that our economic progress is shared across the United Kingdom. By abolishing tolls for 25 million annual journeys between two nations we will strengthen the links between communities."

"This will drive economic growth right across the country helping key economic centres in Cardiff, Bath, Bristol and Newport,” the Tory leader will say. “By significantly reducing the cost of doing business between Wales and England, the Conservatives continue to deliver on improving the economic prospects of ordinary working people.”

A spokesman for the Tories said the move was backed by commuters and communities on both sides of the crossings during a public consultation that closed in March.


A view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the old Severn Bridge, seen from Dundry Hill, Bristol (Photo: Dan Regan)

“For the past 50 years, tolls of up to £20 have been levied on vehicles crossing the Severn but a future Conservative government will scrap them for millions of drivers who use the bridges every year,” said the spokeswoman.

She said the decision would “bind together two economic areas in Wales and England, supporting the Union, whilst sharing prosperity right across the United Kingdom”.

Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, is expected to add: “Scrapping the Severn Crossing tolls is an example of the Conservatives of taking the big decisions when they’re the right decisions, in doing so, transforming the joint economic prospects of South Wales and the South West of England. Drivers using this key artery between two nations, en route to London, will benefit from a £100m boost to the local area.”

And, by the way, my personal thanks to Dan Regan for that absolutely brilliant picture of those two bridges - it's not an image I've seen before, but it really is a good one! 

[Bmblbzzz]

As for abolishing the Severn Bridge tolls, are they talking about both bridges? It sounds like it. I'm not sure I think it's a good idea TBH^▸ (to be honest).

[John R]

It would have to be both bridges else one would be rather quiet.

If the bridge has been paid for, which it will have been by the year end, it seems reasonable that the ongoing maintenance costs for such a vital link should come out of the general public purse. I suspect the costs of collecting the tolls will represent a large proportion of the reduced tolls that had already been agreed, and this again leans towards complete abolition.

I would put the Tamar Bridge in the same category.

[chrisr_75]

It would have to be both bridges else one would be rather quiet.

One of them is rather quiet anyway, hence why I habitually use it in preference to the other one. The old lady deserves a bit of peace and quiet in her later years anyway!

[Western Pathfinder]

It would have to be both bridges else one would be rather quiet.

One of them is rather quiet anyway, hence why I habitually use it in preference to the other one. The old lady deserves a bit of peace and quiet in her later years anyway!

I too use the original bridge out of preference having spent many hours watching it being built from my bedroom window when a small boy the cranes kept me entertained for ages.

[TonyK]

I use whichever one is nearest to where I'm going, but I'm just an unromantic pragmatist.

[Chris from Nailsea]

And, by the way, my personal thanks to Dan Regan for that absolutely brilliant picture of those two bridges - it's not an image I've seen before, but it really is a good one! 

As our discussion about the perspective of that particular image has moved on, I have now split off several posts and created a new topic for them, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18289.0

Hope this helps!  CfN. 

[martyjon]

Severn Bridge tolls to be scrapped by the end of 2018. That was a news story headline item on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio 4 Today programme at 0600 this morning whilst I was in the bathroom but I didn't catch the rest of the item but it has been repeated on the 0630 news headlines.

[grahame]

Severn Bridge tolls to be scrapped by the end of 2018. That was a news story headline item on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio 4 Today programme at 0600 this morning whilst I was in the bathroom but I didn't catch the rest of the item but it has been repeated on the 0630 news headlines.

Interesting background article (from April) from Insider Media

Turnover has passed the £100m mark at the company which operates the Severn Bridge and Second Severn Crossing, thanks to a 4 per cent increase in the number of journeys and inflation-linked toll increases.

Severn River Crossing was founded to take over the operation and maintenance of the Severn Bridge and finance, operate and maintain the Second Severn Crossing.

Revenue from toll charges is being used to pay off debt finance before both bridges return to public ownership.

The required revenue is set to be achieved in late 2017 with the bridges set to go into public ownership in 2018.

The latest accounts for Severn River Crossing plc show turnover of £103.2m was achieved in the year to 31 December 2016, up from £98m in 2015. Pre-tax profit also increased to £44.5m from £38.8m the year before.

The income generated by the business was used to repay an £80m bank loan during the year.

The company said traffic travelling westbound over both bridges had grown to 14.4 million vehicles, up from 13.9 million.

Car journeys increased by 4.4 per cent, light goods vehicles trips by 1.7 per cent and heavy goods vehicles crossing by 2.9 per cent.

In their report accompanying the accounts the directors said traffic growth was expected to continue in 2017, while revenues would be boosted by further index-linked toll price rises.

Earlier this year, the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Government revealed plans to reduce tolls on the bridges when they go into public ownership.

Under the proposals, cars would pay £3 instead of the current £6.70. Small buses or vans would also pay £3, down from £13.40 lorries and coaches would pay £10 instead of £20.

A 'free-flow' charging system will also be considered, with toll booths removed and vehicles crossing the bridges instead monitored by cameras.

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Severn Bridge tolls to be reduced in January 2018

Tolls on the Severn Bridges will be cut in January for the first time, as VAT^▸ (Value Added Tax) is removed from the fees.

Cars heading for Wales will be charged £5.60 instead of £6.70, with vans paying £11.20 - down from £13.40 - and coaches £16.70, currently £20.

UK^▸ (United Kingdom) ministers confirmed it was a step towards abolishing tolls altogether at the end of 2018, as revealed in July.

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said tolls had been "an economic and symbolic barrier to Wales' future prosperity".

It will be the first time since the first Severn Bridge opened in 1966 that the toll has been cut.

The reduction takes effect on 8 January, the date the two crossings return to public ownership.

Motorists will also not face the usual inflation-related increase on New Year's Day.

[grahame]

Motorists will also not face the usual inflation-related increase on New Year's Day.

True. The VAT^▸ (Value Added Tax) free prices are, though, rounded up so it's a modest 1p to 4p increase if you look at it like that. As the things are now in public ownership and VAT is a public tax, though, the reality is that total government take from private motorists (who are not VAT registered) is reduced, and some pay-and-reclaim stuff that's the business admin's workload is removed.

[JayMac]

The reduction in tolls is welcome, as is their abolition later this year.

Now, what do people think of the renaming of the Second Severn Crossing? The Prince of Wales Bridge.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-wales-43647151

I'm in agreement with fellow republicans. Just so unimaginative to name it after Brian.

Why couldn't there have been a public vote on a new name? Bridgey McBridgeface would have been so much better. 

[grahame]

Now, what do people think of the renaming of the Second Severn Crossing? The Prince of Wales Bridge.

well

Labour Cardiff Central MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Jo Stevens accused Mr Cairns of "wasting time on PR^▸ (Public Relations) projects".

"No tidal lagoon, no post-Brexit replacement funding, no rail electrification to Swansea but the Tory Secretary of State has managed to get a bridge renamed," she said.

I hope the renaming wasn't as expensive as the electrification to Swansea would have been!

It's good to see a smaller project near Pilning going ahead - perhaps that will set a precedent for another

[chuffed]

Let's hope the bridge plaque doesn't say Price of Wails !

I hope abolishing the tolls won't let in the trolls !