The Liberal Democrats’ pledge to scrap the Severn Bridge toll has been welcomed by the Freight Transport Association, which believes it will boost business.
The Lib Dems have pledged that if they’re elected next year, they will scrap the charge on the bridges, which links England to Wales
Severn River Crossings Plc currently administers the bridges, however, it is hoped that they will revert back to public ownership by 2018. The toll is the most expensive in the UK, according to the FTA, costing £6.40 for a car, £12.80 for a van and £19.20 for a coach or lorry.
“The impact of the continued increase in the cost of the tolls on business, particularly transport and freight businesses, have been enormous and continue to be so, ” said Denise Lovering, chair of FTA’s Welsh council.
“When you find out that the cost to some companies is in excess of £500,000 a year it doesn’t take much to understand what a boost to the economy the removal of the tolls would be,” continued Lovering.