Electric vehicles could cross the Tamar Bridge for free

Drivers of electric vehicles could get free or cheaper tolls when using the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry after councillors called for the idea to be developed.

The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry joint committee – made up of councillors from Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council – came up with the idea when discussing the plans to raise tolls by 30%.

The committee rubber stamped the rise which will see those using Tamar tags seeing their costs increase in May whilst cash tolls are expected to rise in January.

Under the new proposals the cost of a crossing using a tag will go from £1 to £1.30 while cash tolls will go from £2 per car to £2.60.

The increase will take longer to introduce for cash tolls as it has to be approved by the Department for Transport.

In their discussions the committee said they also wanted to do more to encourage the use of electric vehicles which would be in line with both councils’ decisions to declare a climate emergency.

David List, general manager of the Tamar crossings, said that whilst it would be possible and would not have a major impact on income now due to the low number of electric vehicles it could become an issue later.

He suggested that if a reduction in cost or free crossings were provided it should be time limited.

“Less than one per cent of vehicles on the road are zero emissions and it is probably even less in the south west," he said.

"Giving a big discount now would not affect our income a lot, but giving that same discount in five years’ time could impact us a lot.”

Philip Desmonde, Cornwall Council Cabinet member for transport, said that he would support free crossings for electric vehicles but agreed it should be time limited as “we don’t want to be hung by our own petard”.

When discussing the toll increases – which had already been approved by the two parent councils – councillors again expressed their concern about the impact it will have on residents and businesses in South East Cornwall and Plymouth.

They also agreed that they would continue to lobby the Government to provide more financial support for the crossings.

Armand Toms, Cornwall councillor for Looe East and Deviock, said that he was seeing increased numbers of people in his area who were struggling to pay their bills and a rise in people being evicted from their homes.

He also said it was not fair that other crossings such as bridges in London, Scotland and Wales were being paid for by the Government with no tolls for users.

“We are being treated unfairly and I am going to stand up for residents in my area," he said.

"I see them hurting really badly at the moment with everything that is going on in the world.”

Andrew Long, Cornwall councillor for Callington and St Dominic, said that the crossings had been described as operating under the “user paid principle” but he said that should only be applied if there were viable alternatives available.

He argued that for people in South East Cornwall the only option they have to access services in Plymouth is by using the bridge or the ferry.

The Mebyon Kernow councillor said that the M6 toll road near Birmingham is also described as “user paid” but in that case there were other access routes available.

He said of the Tamar crossings: “They are essential services for 100,000 people in South East Cornwall – they have no choice but to access health services in Plymouth. They have no choice.”

Cllr Desmonde said that he would continue to lobby Cornwall’s MPs and the Government to get financial support for the crossings.

He said he would be explaining to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Levelling Up minister Michael Gove that it's important to provide help for people in the area.

The committee agreed to approve the toll increases, to get more information on toll discounts for electric vehicles and to continue to lobby the Government for more support.

Story credit: Richard Whitehouse, Local Democracy Reporting Service