7. 7. UKIP Wales Debate: Tolls on the Severn Bridges

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:40 pm on 16 November 2016.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 4:40, 16 November 2016

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I’d like to move the amendment in the name of my colleague Paul Davies, and to thank UKIP for bringing forward this debate today. I recognise there is widespread ambition across this Chamber to remove the tolls on the Severn bridge and to reduce, of course, the burden on motorists travelling into Wales. The intention of the Welsh Conservative amendment to this motion is to recognise that there are issues that need to be addressed and considered with regard to the removal of the tolls. There are ramifications from such a decision on the public purse: traffic volumes and the impact on maintenance of the bridges, and, of course, a knock-on effect, potentially, on other transport projects across Wales as well. And we should remember that the previous assessments have indicated that traffic volumes would increase by at least 25 per cent if tolls were removed immediately. It’s certainly my view that a comprehensive—