FTA blasts Severn crossing toll
Wednesday 24 March 2010 Back to Blog
Van leasing customers could be among those losing out to what the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has deemed "unfair and unnecessary tolls" on the Severn crossing.
The industry body has called on the government to scrap the charges, which it says cost businesses tens of thousands of pounds a year, which could instead be invested in more staff and greener fleets.
It follows transport minister Sadiq Khan's recent announcement that he is considering scrapping or reducing tolls across the Humber Estuary.
Ian Gallagher, FTA's policy manager for Wales, said: "It is terribly inconsistent of the government to acknowledge the need to take a principled approach to protecting businesses from unfair and unnecessary tolls, while blatantly ignoring the huge cost to industry of unabated and seemingly arbitrary price hikes on the Severn crossing."
Earlier this month, Kevin Delaney, head of road safety at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, claimed that road pricing may be "the only way" to combat rising levels of congestion.