This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35812565
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Budget 2016: Severn bridge tolls to be halved | Budget 2016: Severn bridge tolls to be halved |
(35 minutes later) | |
Toll charges on the Severn crossings will be halved in 2018, Chancellor George Osborne has announced in his Budget. | Toll charges on the Severn crossings will be halved in 2018, Chancellor George Osborne has announced in his Budget. |
The current £6.60 toll for cars - already due to be cut to £5.40 - is now expected to fall to around £3.30. | The current £6.60 toll for cars - already due to be cut to £5.40 - is now expected to fall to around £3.30. |
Mr Osborne said he had listened to the concerns of Conservative MPs in Wales. | Mr Osborne said he had listened to the concerns of Conservative MPs in Wales. |
Tax breaks for a Port Talbot enterprise zone, in the wake of job losses at Tata Steel, were also announced. | Tax breaks for a Port Talbot enterprise zone, in the wake of job losses at Tata Steel, were also announced. |
Severn Bridge tolls are currently collected by a firm to pay for the construction and running costs, which are due to be repaid by 2018. | Severn Bridge tolls are currently collected by a firm to pay for the construction and running costs, which are due to be repaid by 2018. |
The current charge is £6.60 for cars, £13.20 for vans and £19.80 for lorries and buses. | The current charge is £6.60 for cars, £13.20 for vans and £19.80 for lorries and buses. |
They are paid for westbound journeys only, by vehicles travelling from England into Wales. | They are paid for westbound journeys only, by vehicles travelling from England into Wales. |
The toll booths could be removed and replaced by online payments, subject to a review planned by the UK government. | |
Earlier this year David Davies, MP for Monmouth, said the two crossings could be in public ownership months earlier than expected. | Earlier this year David Davies, MP for Monmouth, said the two crossings could be in public ownership months earlier than expected. |
He said changes to corporation tax and an increase in traffic due to low fuel prices meant construction costs would be repaid sooner. | He said changes to corporation tax and an increase in traffic due to low fuel prices meant construction costs would be repaid sooner. |
Mr Davies had said there was scope for a huge cut in the tolls, and still cover running costs. | Mr Davies had said there was scope for a huge cut in the tolls, and still cover running costs. |
The UK government's Department of Transport confirmed in 2014 that tolls on the Severn crossings would not be subject to VAT when they return to public ownership. | The UK government's Department of Transport confirmed in 2014 that tolls on the Severn crossings would not be subject to VAT when they return to public ownership. |
In the 2015 pre-election budget Mr Osborne announced that, as a result, tolls would fall to £5.40 in 2018. | In the 2015 pre-election budget Mr Osborne announced that, as a result, tolls would fall to £5.40 in 2018. |