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Severn Bridges In Public Ownership By 2017, Says Mp
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I'm not clear on what basis this MP seems to think that traffic volumes will increase when the toll charges reduce (to reflect the income required to cover ongoing maintenance only once the capital cost is fully repaid).
If one wants to get to S Wales from anywhere to the east and south of Bristol, one uses the bridge. Can't see too many extra day-trippers just because it's cheaper.
If one wants to get to S Wales from anywhere to the east and south of Bristol, one uses the bridge. Can't see too many extra day-trippers just because it's cheaper.
Doggy...what he is saying ( I think ! ) is that if the bridge charges were reduced, by the removal of VAT, it might encourage more traffic back on to the bridges. There has been a movement for years here in South Wales to get the very high charges reduced considerably. They are shockingly high now...well over £6 for a car.
I've always felt the bridge pricing is based on a combination of inconvenience factor of Gloucester plus the extra mileage. £6 is of course for a double crossing, as one pays in one direction only.
Regarding increasing / reducing the price before loan is paid off: it's swings and roundabouts. Reduce the toll now and loan takes longer to pay off, so long term price reduction would merely be delayed.
Regarding increasing / reducing the price before loan is paid off: it's swings and roundabouts. Reduce the toll now and loan takes longer to pay off, so long term price reduction would merely be delayed.
David Davies MP is not suggesting that tolls should be reduced to increase traffic flow across the Severn Crossings but that the recorded increase of traffic volume will bring the handover of the bridges into public ownership earlier than the most recently projected date of April 2018.
The Severn Bridges Act 1992 established the conditions under which the concession will end. Severn River Crossing Plc will continue tolling until “it appears to the Secretary of State that the revenue requirement has been met”, subject to a maximum of 30 years (i.e. 2022). The Act states that the revenue requirement is met:
'... on a day if the aggregate amount of toll income received by the concessionaire on or before that day is equal to or greater than the amount which he is entitled to receive in accordance with the concession agreement.'
The amount the concessionaire is entitled to receive in accordance with the concession agreement is a cumulative revenue of £995,830,000 expressed in July 1989 prices.
In 2010 the projected handover date was the first half of 2017 but has slipped back during the past 5 years. David Davies appears to be saying the date has slipped forward again and that plans for the handover be prepared.
The Severn Bridges Act 1992 established the conditions under which the concession will end. Severn River Crossing Plc will continue tolling until “it appears to the Secretary of State that the revenue requirement has been met”, subject to a maximum of 30 years (i.e. 2022). The Act states that the revenue requirement is met:
'... on a day if the aggregate amount of toll income received by the concessionaire on or before that day is equal to or greater than the amount which he is entitled to receive in accordance with the concession agreement.'
The amount the concessionaire is entitled to receive in accordance with the concession agreement is a cumulative revenue of £995,830,000 expressed in July 1989 prices.
In 2010 the projected handover date was the first half of 2017 but has slipped back during the past 5 years. David Davies appears to be saying the date has slipped forward again and that plans for the handover be prepared.
ABerrant...well done...a very full and accurate reply.
The bridges were stolen from the public by the government of the time, and they can't come back into public ownership fast enough.
The current charge for entering Wales is £6:60 per car. I know people that live in Wales but work in Bristol, a distance of only a few miles, and this charge is a terrible burden on them.
The bridges were stolen from the public by the government of the time, and they can't come back into public ownership fast enough.
The current charge for entering Wales is £6:60 per car. I know people that live in Wales but work in Bristol, a distance of only a few miles, and this charge is a terrible burden on them.
//The bridges were stolen from the public by the government of the time, and they can't come back into public ownership fast enough. //
Haha the whole point of mikeys original post. 1962 would you believe. After decades of prevarication regarding the construction and financing of the crossings a solution was found. Part of which was, that the people who use and benefit from the crossing, should perhaps contribute to the costs. It has since its inception and construction been of huge benefit to the economy and infrastructure of South Wales. Without it Cardiff and Swansea would certainly not be the vibrant prosperous cities they have become. I do hope that when the Bridges revert to Public ownership that they are maintained and operated in the exemplary fashion that has become expected.
Haha the whole point of mikeys original post. 1962 would you believe. After decades of prevarication regarding the construction and financing of the crossings a solution was found. Part of which was, that the people who use and benefit from the crossing, should perhaps contribute to the costs. It has since its inception and construction been of huge benefit to the economy and infrastructure of South Wales. Without it Cardiff and Swansea would certainly not be the vibrant prosperous cities they have become. I do hope that when the Bridges revert to Public ownership that they are maintained and operated in the exemplary fashion that has become expected.
Togo...you are correct about the benefits of the new bridge. I was one of the first across on the day it first opened in 1996.
But the formulae used to increase the Tolls every year has been a burden, especially in recent years.
So.... as soon as its back in public hands the better, and lets hope the excessive charges are reduced to a more acceptable level.
But the formulae used to increase the Tolls every year has been a burden, especially in recent years.
So.... as soon as its back in public hands the better, and lets hope the excessive charges are reduced to a more acceptable level.
// I know people that live in Wales but work in Bristol, a distance of only a few miles, and this charge is a terrible burden on them.//
I am more inclined to think that charges are more likely to rise mikey. Plus the people you reference, who commute across the bridge to work in Bristol, would perhaps not be able to hold down what is likely to be lucrative employment without the crossings.
I am more inclined to think that charges are more likely to rise mikey. Plus the people you reference, who commute across the bridge to work in Bristol, would perhaps not be able to hold down what is likely to be lucrative employment without the crossings.
Togo...now that enough money has been raised with these charges, there is no reason why a more reasonable charge should be made.
The high charges were meant to repay the cost of building the new bridge, and it looks as if by sometime next year, that point will have been reached.
See ABerrant's post above.
The high charges were meant to repay the cost of building the new bridge, and it looks as if by sometime next year, that point will have been reached.
See ABerrant's post above.
//In 2017 ownership of the Severn River Crossings will revert to the UK Government, who will have the freedom to set toll charges. We understand that the current charges are enshrined in Law and are linked to inflation, however, when the Department of Transport takes over responsibility for the Bridges in 2017, we believe that a fair pricing policy should be adopted, reflecting operating and maintenance costs only, and should not be used as a tax revenue.//
This is part of a draft written for a petition regarding when the tolls were due to be revised mikey. Now reading between the lines.......
This is part of a draft written for a petition regarding when the tolls were due to be revised mikey. Now reading between the lines.......
Togo...it depends on who will own the bridges after this current period ends.
I think it should be the Welsh Assembly Government, and if it is, then they have pledged to reduce charges to a more reasonable level.
No one expects the bridges to be free, like the Skye road bridge, and the Forth bridges, but £6:60 cannot be called reasonable. There is plenty of room for a compromise here.
I think it should be the Welsh Assembly Government, and if it is, then they have pledged to reduce charges to a more reasonable level.
No one expects the bridges to be free, like the Skye road bridge, and the Forth bridges, but £6:60 cannot be called reasonable. There is plenty of room for a compromise here.
//I think it should be the Welsh Assembly Government, and if it is, then they have pledged to reduce charges to a more reasonable level.//
That would be the Labour dominated Welsh Assembly then. Who of course are famous for reducing costs to the public. More likely to see it as an opportunity to glean more revenue to top up their perks and pension funds.
That would be the Labour dominated Welsh Assembly then. Who of course are famous for reducing costs to the public. More likely to see it as an opportunity to glean more revenue to top up their perks and pension funds.
Togo...if there wasn't such a thing as a Welsh Assembly, we would still be under the control of a series of Tory Governor-Generals, who crossed the Severn Bridges in Ministerial Rovers, with the ostrich-plumed hats laying neatly by their side. We had many years of being governed by such monstrosities, such as John Redwood, despite there very little public support for the Tories. There was so little public support in fact, that we had English MPs foisted upon, as Secretaries of State, because there just weren't enough Welsh MPs to choose from !
I am very far from being a supporter of Welsh nationalism...in fact I only moved to Wales, from England, when I was 15, and I still wear the white jersey during the Internationals ! But can you imagine how offended we felt having English MPs as Welsh secretaries ?
The assembly is not perfect, by any means, but at least it ensures, as best it can, that those days never come back again. Anyway, its democracy in action. If the Tories want control of Wales and Scotland again, the Party has got to persuade more of our citizens to vote for it, something it seems unable to do at present.
But I expect we may never agree on that !
And yes, its a fairly nice day today....a bit cold but no wind and more importantly......no ruddy rain !
I am very far from being a supporter of Welsh nationalism...in fact I only moved to Wales, from England, when I was 15, and I still wear the white jersey during the Internationals ! But can you imagine how offended we felt having English MPs as Welsh secretaries ?
The assembly is not perfect, by any means, but at least it ensures, as best it can, that those days never come back again. Anyway, its democracy in action. If the Tories want control of Wales and Scotland again, the Party has got to persuade more of our citizens to vote for it, something it seems unable to do at present.
But I expect we may never agree on that !
And yes, its a fairly nice day today....a bit cold but no wind and more importantly......no ruddy rain !
The last time I looked mikey Her Majesty's Government had about 16 Secretaries Of State and 3 Ministers Of State. But I suppose the Secretary Of State for Communities and Local Government is the closest to the Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and N.Ireland. Which of course backs up the claim for England to indeed have its own devolved assembly.
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