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| Bridge toll plastic payment call | Bridge toll plastic payment call |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The shadow transport minister has called for motorists to be able to pay by plastic to cross the Severn Bridges. | The shadow transport minister has called for motorists to be able to pay by plastic to cross the Severn Bridges. |
| Andrew Davies AM said forcing car drivers to pay the £5.10 fee by cash or cheque was "dated" and "confusing". | Andrew Davies AM said forcing car drivers to pay the £5.10 fee by cash or cheque was "dated" and "confusing". |
| His call comes after a man from Penarth claims he was told to turn around and drive back to England to get the money. | His call comes after a man from Penarth claims he was told to turn around and drive back to England to get the money. |
| The Department for Transport said it was working to see if legal, technical and financial issues could be overcome to allow card payments in the future. | The Department for Transport said it was working to see if legal, technical and financial issues could be overcome to allow card payments in the future. |
| Tony Stott, 61, from Cogan, Vale of Glamorgan, said he was travelling back on the M4 from Devon when he realised he had forgotten to get cash out for the second Severn crossing. | Tony Stott, 61, from Cogan, Vale of Glamorgan, said he was travelling back on the M4 from Devon when he realised he had forgotten to get cash out for the second Severn crossing. |
| As he had debit and credit cards he thought there must be some way of paying the £5.10 toll. | As he had debit and credit cards he thought there must be some way of paying the £5.10 toll. |
| But when he reached the booth, he was told he would have to turn around and drive back across the bridge towards England to get the money. | But when he reached the booth, he was told he would have to turn around and drive back across the bridge towards England to get the money. |
| I don't see why they can't take somebody on one side and have a cash card reader Tony Stott | I don't see why they can't take somebody on one side and have a cash card reader Tony Stott |
| He described how the barriers came down and all the other traffic was stopped, and he was escorted by a Landrover towards joining the eastbound carriageway. | He described how the barriers came down and all the other traffic was stopped, and he was escorted by a Landrover towards joining the eastbound carriageway. |
| But when they got on to a bridge across the motorway, Mr Stott said the vehicle began reversing backwards until it was behind him. | But when they got on to a bridge across the motorway, Mr Stott said the vehicle began reversing backwards until it was behind him. |
| Realising he was on the open road, Mr Stott drove off westbound towards south Wales. | Realising he was on the open road, Mr Stott drove off westbound towards south Wales. |
| The next day, feeling "really quite worried", Mr Stott said he sent off the toll money by post to operators, Severn River Crossing Plc. | The next day, feeling "really quite worried", Mr Stott said he sent off the toll money by post to operators, Severn River Crossing Plc. |
| "What I find really appalling, is to send you back across the bridge, what good does that do?" he said. | "What I find really appalling, is to send you back across the bridge, what good does that do?" he said. |
| "It's totally environmentally unsound, all the extra miles, for what?" | "It's totally environmentally unsound, all the extra miles, for what?" |
| Car drivers travelling back into Wales face a £5.10 toll | Car drivers travelling back into Wales face a £5.10 toll |
| "I don't see why they can't take somebody on one side and have a cash card reader." | "I don't see why they can't take somebody on one side and have a cash card reader." |
| Following Mr Stott's experience, Mr Davies, Conservative AM for South Wales Central, has written to Severn River Crossing Plc. | Following Mr Stott's experience, Mr Davies, Conservative AM for South Wales Central, has written to Severn River Crossing Plc. |
| Mr Davies said people were increasingly reliant upon debit and credit cards. | Mr Davies said people were increasingly reliant upon debit and credit cards. |
| "It is possible to pay by card in many small corner shops, yet not for a company that takes payments from millions of vehicles every year. | "It is possible to pay by card in many small corner shops, yet not for a company that takes payments from millions of vehicles every year. |
| "The Severn bridges are flagship gateways into Wales and marvels of 20th Century British engineering. | "The Severn bridges are flagship gateways into Wales and marvels of 20th Century British engineering. |
| "It would a shame for the prestige of these modern gateways to Wales to be damaged because of dated payment methods." | "It would a shame for the prestige of these modern gateways to Wales to be damaged because of dated payment methods." |
| General manager Jim Clune said he had not yet received Mr Davies' letter, and the issue was a matter for the Department for Transport/Highways Agency. | General manager Jim Clune said he had not yet received Mr Davies' letter, and the issue was a matter for the Department for Transport/Highways Agency. |
| Warning signs | Warning signs |
| "To resolve this matter, the legislation will need to be changed and this can only be arranged by the relevant government department," he said. | "To resolve this matter, the legislation will need to be changed and this can only be arranged by the relevant government department," he said. |
| A Department for Transport spokesman said advance warning signs advised motorists that tolls were for cash only. | A Department for Transport spokesman said advance warning signs advised motorists that tolls were for cash only. |
| He also pointed out that the pre-payment Severn TAG scheme was available to regular bridge users. | He also pointed out that the pre-payment Severn TAG scheme was available to regular bridge users. |
| "However, we are currently working closely with Severn River Crossings plc to see if the legislative, technical and financial issues can be overcome to allow credit card payments." | "However, we are currently working closely with Severn River Crossings plc to see if the legislative, technical and financial issues can be overcome to allow credit card payments." |
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