Tolls scrapped on the Severn bridges

Motorists can travel for free for the first time in 52 years on the two Severn bridges as the tolls are scrapped from today.

The abolition comes as thousands of people are expected to make their journeys home for the festive period.

Charges on the original Severn Crossing have been in place since 1966, when the fee stood at two shillings and sixpence – the equivalent of 12.5p in decimal currency today.

They were then introduced on the second crossing – renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge in April this year – when it opened 30 years later in 1996.

The current fee for a car crossing from England into South Wales is £5.60, and regular commuters are expected to save more than £1,400 a year.

The tolls were reduced on New Year’s Day 2018 after the bridges were returned to public ownership, but the government resisted calls to immediately abolish crossing fees.

The government said scrapping of the tolls would provide an immediate benefit of more than £100 million per year for Wales, and more than a billion pounds of economic benefit over the next decade.

Businesses will also benefit from strengthened links between communities ranging from west Wales to the south-west of England by making it easier for consumers and employees to cross the border.

The final driver to pay to cross over from England to Wales yesterday was Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns.

“Scrapping the tolls means an end to generations of people paying to simply cross the border and delivering this has been one of my key aims as Welsh secretary,” said Mr Cairns.

“A week before Christmas drivers will no longer have to pay every time they cross the border, meaning more money in their pockets.”

Severn tolls are no more.