Tamar Bridge crossing costs set to rise as council backs increase

Plymouth City Council has agreed a 15 per cent increase in the price of crossing the Tamar Bridge

Crossing the Tamar Bridge is set to become more expensive after a council agreed a price rise.

Plymouth City Council's cabinet has approved a 15% increase meaning a £3 charge for cars and £1.50 for the tag system.

The current charges are £2.60 for cars and £1.30 for the pre-paid electronic Tamar Tag scheme.

There have been calls to scrap the tolls and for the government to replace local councils in operating the bridge.

The proposals will go before Cornwall and Plymouth full councils later this month for ratification before a request is made to the government.

Both authorities are co-owners, sharing the operation and maintenance of the bridge, but it is financed by tolls paid by drivers.

Charges a 'galloping racehorse'

Plymouth City Council leader, councillor Tudor Evans, said: "The costs are not going down, the number of cars are not going up, and we do not have funding settlements that have enough headroom or are medium-term that enable us to plan our way through this."

Councillor Mark Coker said both of the councils finance officers believed that no support could be available from the authorities as their budgets were already under pressure.

However, Cornwall councillor Armond Toms told members last month tolls were going up like a "galloping racehorse" and they should not be penalising local people, but looking for other ways of bringing in income.

The committee said its reserves have been depleted and the rise would put £3m in the bank by 2027/28 if it went ahead.

The proposals have also been accepted by Cornwall Council's cabinet. They will go before Cornwall and Plymouth full councils later this month for ratification, after which a request will be made to the transport secretary.