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Toll operators make euro users pay more

24th January 2002
Page 6
Page 6, 24th January 2002 — Toll operators make euro users pay more
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• by Guy Shepherd Two UK toll operators have been accused of taking advantage of foreign hauliers who want to pay them in euros.

A CM investigation has found that both Humber Bridge Board and Dartford River Crossing accept euros in place of sterling—but only value them at 54p, compared with the tourist rate in banks of more than 63p.

This means that a driver going through the Dartford tunnel who hands over a €20 note for the £2.90 toll ends up with just £7.90 in change. If he was getting the tourist rate for his euros, he would receive nearly £2 more.

The highest toll for trucks on the Humber bridge is £16.10 but a foreign driver without sterling would pay €30, effectively hiking up the price by another £3.

Both companies defend their exchange rates, saying they incur costs converting euros to sterling. Chris Dixon, Dartford administration manager, says: "Ever since the tunnel opened in 1963, we have accepted foreign currency. It is always set at a worse rate than you get at the bank."

But James Rawle, the deputy general manager of Severn River Crossing, says its exchange rate of 60p per euro is enough to recoup the costs of conversion.

Newcastle upon Tyne city council also has a 60p exchange rate, charging trucks either E2 or 21.20 to go through the Tyne tunnel.

Sean Delaney, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, says he will be urging the Irish government to demand that UK toll rates in euros are brought closer into line with those in sterling: "it is a cynical way to exploit foreign drivers. What they are doing is devaluing the euro. I don't think they can do that."

How Edwards, Labour MP for Monmouth, plans to table a written question in Parliament about the variations in exchange rates for different tolls. He is already campaigning to allow motorists and truckers to use debit and credit cards when crossing the Severn bridges.


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