Hauliers in the Cardiff area are outraged about new toll prices on the Severn Bridge and Second Severn Crossing which come into force from January next year. The cost for cars will rise from £4.90 to £5.10 but the truck toll goes up more - from £14.70 to £15.30. David Butler from MA Rees & Son says: "We run more than 20 vehicles at the moment and most of our work is into Wales. At an extra £1 each journey we will be affected a lot by the rise as we can't get that money back from customers."
And Peter Vaughan of Celtic Distribution adds: "It's a complete rip-off and basically exploitative. "We have to pay the charge because it takes so long to go round," he adds, "But why should we be paying over £15 when down in London, where all the money is, it only costs £2 to cross the Thames [at Dartford]?" Other hauliers who use the crossing also hit out at the hike, branding the charges "ridiculous".
However, management at Severn Crossing defended the rises, saying the tolls are amended at the start of each year in strict compliance with the Severn Bridges Act 1992 and on the orders of the Secretary of State for Wales.
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