Government to abolish all River Severn bridge tolls by 2018

Tolls on the Severn crossings are to be scrapped by the end of 2018 in a move expected to boost the Welsh economy by £100m a year, the Government has announced.

Described as a “tax on Wales”, for the past 50 years motorists have been forced to pay to cross from south-west England into south Wales, costing some motorists £1,400 a year.

Following Theresa May’s election pledge to abolish the charges for 25 million drivers who use the crossings each year, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns made the formal announcement.

Speaking in Newport, he said: “The decision to abolish the Severn tolls next year sends a powerful message to businesses, commuters and tourists alike that the UK Government is committed to strengthening the Welsh economy.

“By ending tolls for the 25 million annual journeys between two nations, we will strengthen the links between communities and help to transform the joint economic prospects of south Wales and the south-west of England.

“I want to ensure that visitors and investors know what Wales has to offer socially, culturally and economically. Most importantly, I want the world to know how accessible we are to business.”

While no definite date has been set, the crossings will become free to use once the last debt has been paid off.

Operator Severn Crossings PLC was given the right to collect payment for 25 years as part of a deal to build a second crossing in 1992, adding to the original bridge which was constructed in 1966.

The toll costs £6.70 for cars and £20 for lorries, but season tickets can be bought for £117.92 a month for small vehicles, which rises to £235.84 for medium sized vehicles and £396 for larger ones.

The crossings will return to public ownership next year and be operated by Highways England.

While the move is billed as a boost to the Welsh economy, there is debate over who should own the crossings, seen as the gateway to Wales.

Plaid Cymru transport spokesman Jonathan Edwards told Wales Online: “The real debate will continue about the ownership of those bridges.

“Clearly, my position is that the ownership of the main supply route into the Welsh economy has to [rest with] the Welsh government.

“The question does come: What is the purpose of the Wales Office within the British Government... It clearly has no influence over the British Government as a whole.”

And Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, dismissed the announcement as a deflection.

He said: “This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Alun Cairns to distract from yesterday’s U-turn on electrification to Swansea.”

The abolition of the tolls comes a day after the Government announced plans to scrap rail electrification from Cardiff to Swansea.

Proposals to modernise the track, making it faster, cleaner and greener, has been sidelined after the costs of the project in the Great Western region alone spiralled £1.9bn over budget.

Instead, the Government announced “modern bi-mode” trains would service the line instead, which a Welsh government spokesman dismissed as “years of broken promises”.