MPs join row over Tamar toll increases

Plymouth's three MPs urge a rethink

MPs have now joined the row over a proposed 150 per cent increase in the monthly administration charge for people in Cornwall and Devon who regularly cross the Tamar river for work, education and hospital appointments.

The increase in the charge for users of the Tamar Crossings TAG discount scheme has been agreed seven months after toll fees went up to plug a hole in the finances.

Members of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee – five councillors from each of the two joint authorities, Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council – voted in favour of the standing charge for having a TAG account to rise from 80p a month to £2 at their meeting last Friday (December 5).

TamarTAG is a pre-paid electronic tolling system that offers 50 per cent discount on tolls. In May users saw a 20p increase in the toll charge to £1.50 and car and vans without a TAG now have to pay £3 to cross from Cornwall into Devon via the bridge or ferry.

MPs Anna Gelderd, Luke Pollard and Fred Thomas have signed a letter urging the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee to reconsider their decision to increase the admin charge.

The MPs urged the committee to reconsider this approach and ensure that any changes are “fully justified, consulted on, communicated transparently and implemented with due regard for the impact on local communities”.

In the letter, the MPs expressed their deep concerns that there has been no progress on making the tolls cheaper for local people. They say the committee’s decision only impacts local users, which flies in the face of previous discussions with the joint chairs and management of the bridge and ferry.

Anna Gelderd, Labour MP for South East Cornwall, said: “In South East Cornwall, we need cheaper, fairer tolls for local people.

“At every turn, it has been clear how many residents rely on crossing the Tamar for hospital appointments, work and essential services and no one should be deterred from accessing basic care or opportunity because of rising toll charges.

“This latest decision risks placing yet another cost on families who simply cannot absorb it. That’s why I’m pressing the committee for clear justification for the increase, full financial transparency, evidence of alternative options considered, a clear implementation timeline and a proper plan for communicating with local users.”

The Tamar Toll Action Group, which was formed in 2022 to try and get tolls abolished, is also aghast at the move. The group said the admin fee rise would not be good for “any resident or business reliant on crossing the Tamar to go about their daily lives”.

Keith Johnson, Reform UK councillor for Saltash Tamar, has also issued a strong objection to the proposal.

He warns that the increase is “unjustified, unaffordable, undemocratic” and part of a decade-long pattern of excessive toll and tag inflation that is crippling communities in South East Cornwall.

Cllr Johnson said: “Wages are not keeping up, inflation is at around 3.6%, yet the bridge continues to hike charges year after year. Our communities are getting poorer while the Tamar Crossings budget grows larger and more opaque.

“We are told to use Plymouth’s services, yet we are charged a financial penalty every time we cross into the city. This is not levelling up – this is levelling down.”

He is calling for an immediate independent audit: “Before a single penny is added to tolls or tag fees, the books must be opened. Residents deserve to know why the bridge is in so much debt and whether money is being spent wisely. Right now, they do not.”

Other Cornwall Council members in solidarity with him include Cllr Sean Smith, Cllr Jim Gale, Cllr Kevin Grey, Cllr Angus Black, Cllr Paul Cador, Cllr Kevin Towill, Cllr Roger Tarrant, Cllr Paul Ashton, Cllr Steve Trevelyan, Cllr Julie Cunningham, Cllr Sally Harrison and Cllr Ian Wilson.

The budget proposal will now go forward to Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council for final consideration and approval.

A spokesperson for Tamar Crossings, which manages the bridge and ferry, said: “We understand that many local people are concerned about the prospect of any increase.

“Tamar Crossings is committed to being transparent about why this change has been proposed, what the fee pays for, and how the public can continue to influence the decision.

“This proposal is part of a democratic process and members of the public are encouraged to share their views with their elected council representatives before a final decision is made. We welcome feedback and want residents to feel informed and heard throughout this process.”

It says the charge has been increased because the Tamar Tag admin fee has remained at £0.80 per month since 2014, despite significant rises in the costs of running the scheme. Tamar Crossings added that after more than a decade of this fee, the current rate is no longer viable.

“Even with the proposed increase to £2 per month, the fee still does not cover the full cost of operating the Tamar Tag scheme.”

A spokesperson added: “We recognise the essential role of the crossings in everyday life for thousands of local people. Tamar Tag users currently receive a 50 per cent reduction on the price of toll crossings – far higher than comparable schemes at other crossings.”

The Humber Bridge provides 10 per cent discount for tag users, while the Dartford Crossing allows a 20 per cent discount for tag users.

Philip Robinson, chief officer of Tamar Crossings, said: “I remain committed to driving down the operating costs of the Tamar Crossings, where it is safe and compliant to do so. This requires greater transparency with those who rely on the crossing each day.

“Part of this process is ensuring that services are self-funding, which the tag system is not and has effectively been making a loss.”

Cornwall councillor Andrew Long, who represents Callington and is co-chair of the joint committee, added: “I am disappointed that Tamar Crossings are having to increase the administration fee for tag users.

“At a time when everyone is suffering from increased costs, this disproportionately adversely affects people from South East Cornwall, many of whom have no alternative but to use the ferry and bridge to access vital services in Plymouth.

“It remains the view of the committee that the only long-term solution to this is to get a toll-free crossing of the Tamar and we are pushing for the two authorities, the MPs and the UK Government to get a solution in place as soon as possible.

“In addition, we are acutely aware that some of the worst affected are people who only use the tag to access the hospital at Derriford and in the new year we will be asking Tamar Crossings to see what can be done to support these people who should be able to access the NHS without a charge but this is currently not the case.

“Finally, we will be working with the officers to continue to drill down on costs to run both services and, at the same time, explore other areas of revenue earning that do not penalise the users of the service.”