UK Government brings an end to over half a century of charging
Drivers can travel for free across both the Prince of Wales and original Severn Crossing for the first time in 52 years from this morning (Monday 17 December). The abolition of the tolls, following an announcement by the UK Government last year, comes as thousands of people are expected to make their journeys home for the festive period.
The tolls’ removal will save regular commuters around £1400 per year and provide an estimated annual boost of over £100m for the Welsh economy. Businesses will also benefit from strengthened links between communities ranging from west Wales to the south west of England by making it easier for consumers and employees to cross the border.
Tolls have been charged on the Severn Crossings since 1966, and the final driver to pay to cross over from England to Wales (on Sunday 16 December) was the Welsh Secretary, Alun Cairns.
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:
The end of the tolls is a major milestone for the economies of south Wales and south west of England, and will remove historic barriers between communities. Scrapping the tolls means an end to generations of people paying to simply cross the border, and delivering this has been one of my key aims as Welsh Secretary.
A week before Christmas drivers will no longer have to pay every time they cross the border, meaning more money in their pockets, helping them with the cost of living and leaving them with and more cash to spend in their local areas.
Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said:
We made a commitment in the manifesto to deliver free crossings over the Severn and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.
This move will put £1,400 a year in the pockets of thousands of hard-working motorists and help transform the economy in the South West and South Wales creating new opportunities and helping drive future growth.
