Abolish Severn Bridge Tolls Call | Senedd to debate the future of tolls on Severn Crossings

12.00.00am GMT Wed 20th Jan 2010

The Severn tolls are an extra tax on Wales

The Welsh Assembly Government will be told this afternoon that the tolls on both Severn Bridges into Wales should be abolished.

Local Assembly member, Welsh Liberal Democrat Michael German, will use his speech to the Assembly and Minister this afternoon to demand that Welsh Government urgently commission a study to on the effects of the Severn tolls on the Welsh economy

Mr. German says that the bridges will revert back to public ownership around 2016 and the Welsh Government is now in a prime position to push for a decision: reduce the tolls or take them away. "The current situation is no longer sustainable. The bridges will have been paid for and here's a great opportunity to boost the prosperity of Wales."

Mr. German pointed to a study on the Humber Bridge in Yorkshire/Lincolnshire, where local authorities clubbed together to commission a report on the likely effects of toll abolition or reduction. "The findings were clear: an enormous impact on job creation and a better, stronger regional economy would result from no tolls or reduced ones. The Welsh Government hasn't got long until 2016 to present their own case."

"Its bad news for Wales to pay an entry toll for business, commuters and for tourism. Even Gavin and Stacey had problem 'paying the appropriate fee to enter the country'. As we have seen over the use of cards to pay tolls, it has taken far too long to get a change and the Welsh Government hasn't got much time to collect the evidence and call for changes."