The reintroduction of tolls on Severn bridges has been included in the “plans to consider” in Wales Council’s five-year local transport plan. In its 72-page plan, handed out to residents and available to view online on the Monmouthshire County Council website, the council lists “plans subject to review and further consideration”. On the list is a proposal to “restore tolls on Severn bridges”.

The Labour-led council, which cannot reinstate tolls on its own but can put pressure on the UK and Welsh governments, predicts that the return of tolls will “reduce journeys to and from Bristol by private vehicles and subsequently , will reduce traffic on the M4 and M48.” . He added that it would also “require approval from multiple agencies” and “would likely generate significant opposition from the public and businesses.”

But board chair Mary Ann Brocklesby has now said the board has no intention of encouraging reintroduction and putting it on the list for review does not mean the board is “pushing” for it. For the latest Wales news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter.

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The toll was abolished in December 2018, by which time the price of a car journey from England to Wales had fallen to £5.60 after a peak of £6.70.

Unsurprisingly, it has already been heavily criticized by some, including Conservative MP for Monmouth, David Davies, who said the reintroduction of tolls would be “disastrous”. “This measure is disastrous because it will harm local businesses, leave people broke and stop tourists coming to Monmouthshire,” he said. Councilor Richard John, leader of the Conservative opposition on the council, said: “Labour’s plan to reinstate the Severn toll will be yet another tax on struggling residents and businesses; They must be removed immediately.”

Cllr Brocklesby told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s not something we do and we’re not thinking about doing it and we have no intention of lobbying for it. That’s not part of the plan. “We will consider feedback from the consultation, the council’s scrutiny committee and the transport forum and will review and review the strategy in light of this.”

However, Cllr Brocklesby admitted the wording of the document could indicate the council could support the reintroduction of the tax, which was scrapped by the UK government with the support of many Welsh parties. “I was told that the text could be interpreted as it was,” he added.

Cllr Brocklesby described mention of the reintroduction of bridge tolls as “a very small part of the local transport plan under consideration” up until January 5 and said neither the council’s scrutiny committee, which met in December, nor the local transport had it. He raised this as an issue.

A table including the toll proposal lists eight other potential plans – from additional parking at Abergavenny train station and the closure of Chepstow High Street to transit – as projects for further consideration or review, although they are not fully aligned with the Current Welsh Government policy. . Among these projects is a council-backed scheme for the B4245/M48 road link in south Monmouthshire.

The plan states: “Monmouthshire County Council remains committed to the proposal to reclassify the M48 and construct a link road from the reclassified M48 to the B4245.” The proposal was rejected by the Welsh Government when it published its analysis of potential new roads in early 2023, but the council wants to continue pushing for it because it believes it will “improve access to the rail network at Severn Tunnel Junction and support active improvements to trips”. .” . »

The plan also includes traffic relief from Chepstow on the A48 as a plan the council could support. But he said “careful consideration” was needed to ensure people were encouraged to switch to more environmentally friendly modes of transport than the private car.