AM in call to keep tolls for crossings

AN Assembly Member has said he wants to keep the Severn Crossing tolls – as he believes scrapping them will invite “chaos” to parts of Wales.

The tolls on both Severn crossings will end in less than two months’ time. They have been in place for more than 50 years, having been in operation since the original Severn Bridge opened in 1966.

Despite the abolition of the toll charges being welcomed in Wales – with every party in the National Assembly backing the plans in a vote two years ago – Llanelli AM Lee Waters has said the decision to bring more traffic and congestion into Wales is “madness”.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Mr Waters said: “Of course it sounds good to have free tolls, to save money on the bridge. I drive across the bridge – that sounds lovely.

“It sounds nice to have a nice new road so you can freely drive into work, stress-free, but that’s not what’s going to happen. It’s going to get congested.

“I’m saying we should reduce the tolls, but keep a level of tolls and use that money to generate borrowing to build an alternative – let’s build a full-on metro system, let’s build public transport right across the south Wales corridor.

“The tolls coming off are going to increase the amount of traffic by at least a quarter, up to 40%, and it’s going to be chaos.

“So we’ll have more chaos and all the money will be gone, and in the meantime we’re locking in a huge amount of extra carbon.”

A UK Government spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Wales are committed to scrapping tolls on the Prince of Wales Bridge and Severn Crossing in a matter of weeks, strengthening south Wales’ economic potential and connecting communities on both sides of the border.”