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| Severn tolls to be axed earlier than planned on 17 December | Severn tolls to be axed earlier than planned on 17 December |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The tolls on the two Severn crossings will be scrapped a week before Christmas Eve, earlier than planned. | |
| Charges on the bridges were scheduled to be axed by 31 December but Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns confirmed they will be lifted on 17 December. | Charges on the bridges were scheduled to be axed by 31 December but Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns confirmed they will be lifted on 17 December. |
| Tolls, currently £5.60 for cars, have been in place since the original Severn bridge was opened in 1966. | Tolls, currently £5.60 for cars, have been in place since the original Severn bridge was opened in 1966. |
| Mr Cairns made the announcement at the Tory party conference in Birmingham. | |
| "The principle of paying to come in to Wales is something that has irritated us for 50 years," he told BBC Radio Wales. | "The principle of paying to come in to Wales is something that has irritated us for 50 years," he told BBC Radio Wales. |
| The toll on the M4 and M48 bridges - that link south Wales and south west England - was initially reduced on New Year's Day in 2018 after they returned to public ownership as the UK government removed VAT on their take-over. | The toll on the M4 and M48 bridges - that link south Wales and south west England - was initially reduced on New Year's Day in 2018 after they returned to public ownership as the UK government removed VAT on their take-over. |
| Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones called for the toll, which is worth up to £10m a month for the government, to be scrapped straight away on 1 January 2018. | Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones called for the toll, which is worth up to £10m a month for the government, to be scrapped straight away on 1 January 2018. |
| But the Department for Transport said the fees collected in 2018 would help pay to phase out tolling and pay towards the estimated annual maintenance and operational cost bill of £15m. | But the Department for Transport said the fees collected in 2018 would help pay to phase out tolling and pay towards the estimated annual maintenance and operational cost bill of £15m. |
| It has been estimated by the Welsh Government that the ultimate abolition of the charges - paid as drivers head westbound into Wales - will benefit the Welsh economy by about £100m a year. | It has been estimated by the Welsh Government that the ultimate abolition of the charges - paid as drivers head westbound into Wales - will benefit the Welsh economy by about £100m a year. |
| About 25 million journeys a year are made across the two bridges and daily users of the crossings could save about £1,400 a year once the toll has been removed. | About 25 million journeys a year are made across the two bridges and daily users of the crossings could save about £1,400 a year once the toll has been removed. |
| But there are concerns that removing the tolls will increase congestion. | But there are concerns that removing the tolls will increase congestion. |
| "If you work or live in Flintshire or Cheshire, you cross the border seamlessly and it creates a much stronger north east Wales and a much stronger north west of England," said Mr Cairns. | "If you work or live in Flintshire or Cheshire, you cross the border seamlessly and it creates a much stronger north east Wales and a much stronger north west of England," said Mr Cairns. |
| "I want the same benefits for south Wales. | "I want the same benefits for south Wales. |
| "One modest haulier in Magor who used to pay £20 for every lorry that passed over the bridge, that was half a million pound on the bottom line of their operation just because they were in Wales." | "One modest haulier in Magor who used to pay £20 for every lorry that passed over the bridge, that was half a million pound on the bottom line of their operation just because they were in Wales." |
| Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards said in September that Mr Cairns' "Western powerhouse" plan to strengthen economic links between South Wales and South West England showed his disdain for Wales. | Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards said in September that Mr Cairns' "Western powerhouse" plan to strengthen economic links between South Wales and South West England showed his disdain for Wales. |
| Mr Cairns responded by calling Mr Edwards "anti-English". Mr Edwards demanded a retraction. | Mr Cairns responded by calling Mr Edwards "anti-English". Mr Edwards demanded a retraction. |
| The Queen opened the £8m first bridge in 1966 while the second bridge, built three miles downstream across the Severn Estuary, was financed by a private consortium set up in 1992. | The Queen opened the £8m first bridge in 1966 while the second bridge, built three miles downstream across the Severn Estuary, was financed by a private consortium set up in 1992. |
| The newest bridge, opened in 1996, cost £332m to construct but the eventual repayments including debt repayments, interest and tax totalled more than £1.3bn. | The newest bridge, opened in 1996, cost £332m to construct but the eventual repayments including debt repayments, interest and tax totalled more than £1.3bn. |
| Severn River Crossing's 180 staff were transferred to UK government agency Highways England on 1 January 2018 but with tolls set to be scrapped, 115 jobs are at risk. | Severn River Crossing's 180 staff were transferred to UK government agency Highways England on 1 January 2018 but with tolls set to be scrapped, 115 jobs are at risk. |
| The 60-strong maintenance team is expected to continue. | The 60-strong maintenance team is expected to continue. |