A 338-metre bridge crossing between two counties is set to sting the pockets of drivers by an added 15 percent, with a cash-strapped local council backing the increase.
Drivers encountering Tamar Bridge may be forced to fork out £3, with Plymouth City Council affirming the motion which will see those using the pre-paid Tamar Tag system rise to £1.50.
The iconic bridge, crossing above the River Tamar between Saltash, Cornwall and Plymouth, Devon, is at the centre of the costly proposal which, if approved, will be requested to the Secretary of State for Transport.
The bridge is co-owned by both authorities, who share its operation and maintenance costs. However, it is funded by tolls paid by drivers. Cllr Mark Coker, Plymouth City Council’s cabinet member for transport, said that no financial support can come from the councils as their budgets are already stretched, PlymouthLive reports.
The price increase aims to address a predicted deficit in 2025/26 and allow for a balanced budget this year. Cllr Coker explained that the high cost of fuel and inflation of over 10 percent has “eroded” the financial plan for 2022.
The number of vehicles crossing the bridge has also not returned to pre-Covid levels it currently stands at around 90 percent, partly due to increased home-working.
Cabinet members have agreed with the advice from the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry joint committee.
Plymouth’s leader, Cllr Tudor Evans, remarked: “The costs are not going down, the number of cars are not going up, and we do not have funding settlements that have enough headroom or are medium term that enable us to plan our way through this.”
Cornwall councillor Armond Toms, part of the committee, warned last month that tolls were increasing like a “galloping racehorse” and said they shouldn’t hurt locals but find new ways to make money.
People aren’t happy with the decision; they want the Tamar tolls gone and for the government to run the bridge instead of local councils.
The committee explained that their savings are running low and the price hike would add £3 million to their funds by 2027/28 if they go through with it.
