Cheaper tolls for Tamar crossings supported

Locals should benefit, says committee

It could cost less for local people to use the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry regularly than it does for people from further afield, if the organisation that operates the crossings gets its way.

The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee wants to be able to raise charges for occasional users and tourists who pay with cash, whilst increasing the 50 per cent discount for users of pre-paid electronic Tamar tags.

The two crossings are operated and maintained jointly by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council and are funded by tolls approved by the Tamar Bridge Act.

But the cost is ultimately decided by government.

Last year, the committee applied to the secretary of state for transport to increase tolls for cars from £2.60 to £3, and from £1.30 to £1.50 for tag subscribers, but are awaiting a decision following a public inquiry.

Income from tolls doesn’t cover the rising costs of maintaining and operating the bridge, espeically as crossings have fallen since the pandemic. And there has been a call for government to take responsibility for the bridge so cash-strapped councils don’t have to foot the bill.

Many people who cross into Plymouth from Cornwall regularly say a price increase will hit them hard. They have the backing of local MPs, who met with members of the committee last week and will be trying to change the law to benefit local people more.

The committee agreed that inflation should be introduced as the basis of increasing tolls, in tandem with a 10-year strategy to secure cheaper charges for local people.

Cllrs Martin Worth (Con, Cornwall Council, Saltash, Trematon and Landrake) and Jon Dingle (Labour, St Budeaux), joint chairs of the committee, said they recognised the importance of the crossings.

They had continued to press both the current and previous governments for more funding to keep services running and enable the public to cross the Tamar safely.

Cllr Worth said they wanted to send “a positive message of reassurance to the public”.

Sutton and Devonport Labour MP Luke Pollard said it was about time local people were put first.

“This is a serious proposal that will safeguard income to run the bridge and the ferry, as well as saving local people money and giving them the lion’s share of the benefits,” he said.

Labour MP for South East Cornwall Anna Gelderd said: “For decades, local residents in South East Cornwall have unfairly shouldered the burden of Tamar crossings’ tolls, and I stand with them in their opposition. This is a long-standing issue that requires a serious, long-term plan to ensure a fairer system for those who rely on the bridge and ferry services.”

Fred Thomas,  Labour MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: “For far too long, the Tamar crossings have been used as a political football, but no longer.

“For the first time, we are working cross party to deliver cheaper tolls for local people, securing the future of the crossings and giving our communities a fair deal.”

Opportunities to increase income from the bridge and ferry are currently being explored as part of a programme called Tamar 2050, including a plan to remove toll booths and barriers and bring in ‘open road tolling’ using automatic number plate recognition to improve traffic flow. A business case is to be drawn up to explore options.

Cllr Mark Coker (Lab, Plymouth City Council, Devonport, strategic planning and transport) said there is not enough information on the impact to communities particularly in the St Budeaux area, part of which might be cut off to buses if full open road tolling goes ahead.

The £16 million cost of the new system would be met by government.