Engineer launches petition to delay free tolls

A SENIOR engineer with the Severn River Crossings company has launched a petition aimed at delaying plans to scrap tolls for those driving across the two Severn bridges into Wales.

Rob Owen, also an Independent member of Caerphilly council, believes ending the tolls before an M4 relief road has been built will add to existing traffic congestion and damage the Welsh economy.

From Monday, when control of the bridges passes from SRC to the UK government body Highways England, VAT will not be applicable on the tolls. By the end of 2018 it is planned to scrap tolls altogether.

In a report he is sending to Welsh politicians, Mr Owen says the M4 section between Wales and the west of England is already congested. “With alleviation schemes such as Brynglas tunnels flyover, motorway widening to three lanes and peak-time use of hard shoulders being beneficial, these are offset by continued traffic growth.

“Add to this the abolition of the Severn tolls and we have a recipe for even more serious concern.”

He said that when tolls end “traffic growth is currently being predicted to rise by around 40%, an unprecedented level of growth that will cripple the network, not only in Wales but beyond, bringing it to nearstandstill at peak times. It is therefore imperative that the toll plazas remain in place to continue to act, as they do now, as a ‘buffer’ to aid traffic flow”.

Mr Owen said that with the Welsh Government having delayed the potential opening of the proposed M4 relief road around Newport until 2023, it makes sense to keep the tolls going for several years longer at reduced rates.

One consequence of keeping tolls in place for a few further years would be to preserve the jobs of the staff controlling the toll booths.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Modelling shows that immediately adjacent to the Second Severn Crossing traffic levels would increase by around 20%. At the Brynglas tunnels this would filter down to around 7%, dropping to a 2% increase before Cardiff.

“Management of the bridge is a matter for the UK government.”

A UK government spokeswoman said: “The removal of the tolls is excellent news for people living and working in Wales.”