Look again at tolls says ETA
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THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION has asked the De. partment of Transport tc confirm that the forthcoming study into a second Severn crossing will consider the pos. sibility of making both the present Severn Bridge and thE prospective second crossing free of tolls. ETA says that thit option must be considered notwithstanding the Govern. ment's present policy of charging tolls at estuarial crossings.
The Association has asked thE Department of Transport tc clarify the terms of reference already announced. The Depart. ment has said that thE consultants undertaking thE study "will need to take accouni of existing and prospectivE levels of tolls in assessing traffic flows. They will be asked to con. sider the implications for tolls o1 the alternative engineering options."
In a letter to the Department': Chief Highway Engineer, FTP has said that presumably all options will be considered. That is the options of either charginc tolls or making the crossings tol free. However, in reply the DTr has merely stated that "nc change in Government policy or the tolling of major estuaria crossings is in prospect. ThE terms of reference of the seconc crossing study will fail to be con strued in that light."
The FTA is concerned that, whatever the Government's present policy is, the consultant's. study provides the best opportunity of assessing the impact 01 removing toll charges from thE Severn Bridge and that this opportunity must not be lost.