Tolls on the two Severn Bridges have been reduced for the first time after the crossings returned to public ownership.
From today, January 8, the toll for a car will come down from £6.70 to £5.60 as VAT will no longer be applied for all vehicles.
This will be the first time the tolls have decreased since their introduction in 1966. The normal annual inflation increase has also not been applied.
The reduction comes as the crossings return to public ownership, with Highways England, a UK Government body, taking over responsibility for the bridges’ operation and management from Severn River Crossing PLC.
From January 8, 2018:
Cars will pay £5.60 instead of £6.70.
Small buses or vans will pay £11.20 down from £13.40
Lorries and coaches will pay £16.70 instead of £20
The reduction will precede the abolition of the tolls by the end of this year, which the UK Government announced in July last year.
The Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns MP said: In less than a year we will see the biggest economic stimulus for south Wales and the valleys for decades. This important move taken by the Prime Minister and the UK Government in regard to the Severn Crossings represents a clear symbol of breaking down the economic and historic barriers which have hindered Wales’ prosperity – whilst supporting the union of the United Kingdom.
“My number one priority as Secretary of State was to remove the tolls, which will not only make journeys cheaper for commuters and tourists, but will also create exciting opportunities for businesses and investors looking to make their mark in Wales.
“This will boost Welsh employment and establish lasting relationships between the economies and communities of South Wales and South West England, creating the most natural growth corridor spanning from Cardiff through Newport to Bristol. It is time to make politics fit business, not business fit politics in Wales.
“I look forward to discussing these opportunities further with hundreds of attendees from both sides of the border at the Severn Growth Summit later this month.”
The move to abolish the tolls completely is expected to save regular motorists around £1,400 per year and the Welsh Government has previously estimated that it could boost the Welsh economy by £100 million a year.