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Proposed Tamar crossings toll hike is frustrating, say drivers

BBC Brain Waterfield at the Torpoint FerryBBC
Brain Waterfield wants the Tamar crossings to be free

Drivers have expressed frustration at proposed toll hikes to use the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferries.

The committee that runs the crossings between Devon and Cornwall is consulting over a range of options to raise revenue.

One option is to raise tolls to £3.20 for cars without a tag, up from £2.60.

The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee said "unprecedented" inflation was on track to exhaust its reserves by 2024/2025.

In its consultation, the committee has also proposed smaller increases, and an option that would leave tolls unchanged - but it said this would bring "significant risks".

Tolls last rose in January with car drivers paying £2.60, up from £2.

'It's frustrating'

Brain Waterfield, who was using the ferry when the BBC spoke to him, said it felt as though tolls were "forever going up and up and up".

"I don't really think that's the way to go," he said.

"You can drive into other parts of the country where the government has taken over and said: OK it's going to be free, and it should be free here."

Kathleen Jones, from Torpoint, said: "Every time I leave Cornwall I have to pay."

Kathleen Jones in her car
Kathleen Jones said she has to 'pay to leave Cornwall'

She said: "Every time I have a meeting in Plymouth, I have to pay. If I want to have a haircut or go shopping, I have to pay.

"It's frustrating."

Darren Booth said households were already struggling with the most recent price hike in January.

"I get it with costs and everything going up. The only way they can fund it is by doing what they're doing," he said.

Councillor Martin Worth
Councillor Martin Worth said the crossings were losing about £2m per year

Councillor Martin Worth, the joint chairman of the committee, said the crossings had faced a shortfall in revenue in recent years.

He said about £18m a year was needed to run the business, but about £2m per year was being lost in revenue since the pandemic.

"The challenge is, long-term, we are in a situation where we are going to run out of money in a two-year period," he added.

What are the five proposals?

  • Increase tolls for cars to £3.00 cash and £1.50 tag: This option has "very little" financial resilience.
  • Increase tolls for cars to £3.20 cash and £1.60 tag: This option provides more financial stability while keeping the 50% discount for tags.
  • Increase tolls for cars to £3.00 cash and £1.80 tag: Maintaining the ceiling price as first option, but reducing tag discounts for added resilience.
  • Increase bridge tolls for cars to £3.00 cash and £1.50 tag and ferry tolls to £4.00 cash and £2.00 tag: Reflecting the higher ferry operating costs, this option may shift traffic patterns.
  • No change in tolls: This "do nothing" option poses "very significant" risks for future service delivery.
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