Plans to push for Severn bridge tolls denied by leader of Monmouthshire County Council

There are no plans to push for the reintroduction of tolls on the Severn bridges, the leader of Monmouthshire County Council has said. This is despite it being listed as an “ambition” in the authority’s local transport plan.

The charges to cross the bridges over the M4 and M48 were scrapped in December 2018 – by which time the price to cross from England to Wales in a car had reduced to £5.60 after peaking at £6.70.

The power to reintroduce the tolls is not in the gift of Monmouthshire County Council with control of the bridge resting with the UK Government.

Welsh secretary and Monmouth MP David Davies has hit out at the Labour-led council which had raised the possibility of tolls being reinstated in its local transport plan it is currently consulting on. 

The Conservative MP said: “The move is disastrous because it will damage local businesses, leave people out of pocket and deter tourists from coming to Monmouthshire.” 

Councillor Richard John, the leader of the Tory opposition on the council, said: “Labour’s plan to reinstate the Severn tolls would be yet another tax on hard-pressed residents and businesses – they need to abandon it immediately.” 

But council leader Mary Ann Brocklesby has said the council has no intention of bringing back the bridge tolls. 

The Labour councillor denied it was part of the plan – even though it is listed as a scheme for review.

She said: “It’s not something we are doing nor are we considering doing it and we do not intend lobbying for it. 

“It is not part of the plan. We will look at feedback from the consultation, the council’s scrutiny committee and the transport forum and review and revise the strategy in light of that.” 

Cllr Brocklesby however acknowledged the wording in the 72 page consultation document may have suggested the council could have supported a reintroduction of the tolls, which were scrapped by the UK Government with cross party support in Wales. 

She said: “It has been pointed out to me the wording could be interpreted in the way it has been.” 

Cllr Brocklesby described the reference to reinstating the bridge tolls as “a very small part of the local transport plan that is out for consultation” and said neither the council scrutiny committee, which met in December, or the local transport forum had raised it as an issue.  

The council leader’s response has been criticised by Monmouth MP Mr Davies who said the authority cannot just dismiss its own transport plan. 

He said: “Mary Ann Brocklesby’s response is not acceptable, this is the council’s report. 

“Monmouthshire County Council can’t run from their report which talks in two places about lobbying to bring tolls back. They can’t suddenly dismiss it and say they’ve no intention of doing it. Clearly there is an intention that’s why it’s in the report, it can’t be in there by mistake. 

“They have to take responsibility and not pretend it wasn’t there in the first place or they’re not actively considering it.”