8. Plaid Cymru Debate: The proposed renaming of the Second Severn Crossing

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:24 pm on 25 April 2018.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 6:24, 25 April 2018

Well, the Prince of Wales was also consulted on the issue and was happy about the naming of the bridge in this regard.

I will say—and I've got Oscar sat next to me here as well—when we think about the £100 million and the decision to abolish, of course, the tolls on the Severn bridge, Newport is now home to the UK's fastest moving property market, according to Rightmove, and I suggest this buoyant market can be directly attributed to the imminent scrapping of the tolls. As many as 25 million motorists could save around £1,400 a year and Wales's hospitality and tourism sectors are expecting a surge in day visitors from England, while of course the haulage industry as well and the property market could also see those benefits. Now, this is what we should be talking about. I can hear Plaid Members sighing, but this is what we should be talking about today—not about the naming of the bridge. So, while I believe that the renaming of the second Severn crossing is a fitting way to formally recognise the Prince of Wales's decades of contribution to our nation on the occasion of his seventieth birthday here, the name 'Prince of Wales' is, of course, a brand as well in itself, which is recognised all around the world. So, let's focus our time today in this Chamber on the important issues of how the scrapping of the tolls will support the Welsh economy. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.