SEVERN BRIDGE TOLLS HITTING OPERATORS HARD
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THE COST OF THE Severn Bridge toll is putting a huge financial burden on operators in South Wales and the west of England, with companies such as Owens Road Services facing a £16,000 monthly bill.
Severn River Crossing, which owns the Severn bridges, can set the bridge tolls at whatever level it pleases, unlike those for the Humber Bridge, which is owned by a board and is overseen by the Department for Transport.
The price of crossing the Severn Bridge in a three-axle HGV is £16.30, as opposed to £14.60 for the Humber Bridge, or just £3.70 for the Dartford River Crossing.
For an LGV, it costs £10.90 to cross the Severn, but just £4.90 to cross the Humber and £2 in Dartford. Ian Jarman, environmental and legislative manager at Owens Road Services, says: “Severn Bridge tolls are a big problem for any business in South Wales.
“It stops people investing in Wales, because they know they will have to pay to use the M4 corridor.” The Freight Transport Association has challenged the government to intervene over the cost of the Severn tolls since it has announced its decision to freeze Humber bridge tolls, despite them being considerably lower.
Last year, 1.6 million HGVs and 1.3 million vans used the Severn bridges.