Shropshire Star

Hauliers give guarded welcome to cut in Severn crossings fees

The Road Haulage Association says that any opportunity to reduce the cost of running trucks is welcome, but warns that extra traffic could put a strain on roads

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Hauliers have given a cautious welcome to today’s cut in the cost of crossing the Severn.

As of midnight, the two bridges, which link England and Wales, became publicly owned, with responsibility for their operation transferring to the Department for Transport from Severn River Crossing plc. VAT was immediately axed from the fees, with the charges to be completely scrapped by the end of the year.

The Road Haulage Association said that businesses relying on the crossings would receive a boost — although it expressed concerns over increased traffic.

Chief executive Richard Burnett said: “The eventual removal of tolls will be a tremendous boost to the local businesses and haulage firms who rely on these major routes.

“However, the inevitable increase in traffic will put a big strain on the current infrastructure. Hauliers and businesses need strong reassurance that, as the deadline for the end of tolls approaches, the necessary steps needed to maintain smooth traffic flow are put in place as a matter of urgency. If the roads can’t cope then any potential savings will be in vain.”

As of today, cars and vehicles with up to nine seats are being charged £5.60 ­for a single trip – down from £6.70. For goods vehicles and small buses up to 3.5 tonnes it has dropped from £13.40 to £11.20, while for those over 3.5 tonnes it has gone down from £20 to £16.70. The fee is only paid when travelling into Wales.

However, top-levels calls have been made for the tolls to be scrapped immediately. Carwyn Jones, Wales’s first minister, tweeted: ‘Welcome news for businesses & commuters – although the #severnbridge tolls should be scrapped now, not at the end of the year.’

https://twitter.com/fmwales/status/950313075558756352

Alun Cairns, secretary of state for Wales, said: “The UK government’s decision to reduce the tolls will cut costs for commuters and tourists, and present exciting opportunities for businesses operating in Wales and over the border.

“I’m absolutely sure that reducing and then removing the tolls will boost Welsh employment and strengthen Wales’s position within the United Kingdom – that is why I made it my number one priority as secretary of state.”

Severn River Crossing plc’s monthly toll revenue for 2017 was reported by the BBC to be between £8m and £10m.

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