Toll Bridges and Roads

HC Deb 23 February 1962 vol 654 cc86-90W

Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all toll bridges and roads on trunk and classified roads in England and Wales, together with the names of the owners and the charges made.

Mr. Marples

My Department's records show the following toll bridges and toll roads on trunk and classified roads in England and Wales. The charges for certain types of traffic are summarised.

—	Owners	Charges
Pedestrians	Pedal Cyclists	Cars	Lorries
Newport Transporter Bridge, Monmouth B.4327, C1. II.	Newport C.B.C.
	No charge for use of travelling platform but 6d charged for use of high level footpath
Rixton and Warburton Bridge, Cheshire, B.5159, C1. II.	Manchester Ship Canal Co.	Nil	1d.	1s.	1s. to 2s. 6d.
Sandwich Toll Bridge, Kent, A.256, C1. I.	Sandwich Corporation	Nil	Nil	1s.	1s. 3d. to 1s. 6d.
Shard Bridge, Lancs., A.588, C1. I.	Shard Bridge Co.	Nil	Nil	3d.	3d. to 1s. 6d.
Swinford Bridge, Berks., A.4141, C1. I.	The Earl of Abingdon	Nil	½d.	4d.	4d.
Tamar Bridge, Potential C1. I	Joint Committee of Plymouth C.B.C. and Cornwall C.C.	Nil	3d.	3s.	4s. to 14s.
Whitchurch Bridge, Berks./Oxon, B.471.C1. II.	Whitchurch Toll Bridge Co.	½d.	½d.	3d.	6d.
Whitney Bridge, Herefordshire, A.438, C1. I.	Whitney Bridge Trust	1d.	2d.	4½d.	4½d. to 1s. 3d.
Wilford Bridge, Notts., B.680, C1. II	Lt. Col. P. T. Clifton	½d.	½d.	4d.	4d. (minimum)
Road
Pont Brewet Road, Merioneth, CI. III.	British Transport Commission jointly with Sir Osmond Williams Estate.	1d.	1d.	1s.	2s.
Mersey Tunnel, C1. I	Joint Committee of Liverpool C.B.C. and Birkenhead C.B.C.	Not allowed	3d.	1s. 6d.	2s. to 3s.

Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the redemption of toll charges on those toll roads and bridges which form part of the trunk road system in England and Wales.

Mr. Marples

There are three toll bridges and one toll road on trunk roads in England and Wales.

I have no present plans to redeem these tolls, but I have in mind the possibility of providing new bridges when funds can be made available for this purpose.

Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Transport what toll roads and bridges have been acquired by highway authorities during the past three years; and whether financial assistance is readily made available to highway authorities for this purpose.

Mr. Marples

One. Norfolk and East Suffolk County Councils took over the Syleham-Brockdish Road in 1959, when tolls were extinguished. The previous owners had dedicated the toll without compensation.

The Government's long-term aim is to encourage the redemption of longstanding tolls on existing roads but I am not at present prepared to devote to this purpose funds which are required for urgently needed improvement schemes. It will remain our policy to charge tolls on certain very costly new bridge and tunnel projects where the present inconvenience to road users will be heavily outweighed by the value of the new facilities.

Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Transport if, with a view to eliminating delays on main traffic routes, he will initiate discussions with the British Transport Commission to secure the quicker and more efficient collection of tolls at bridges owned by the Commission on trunk and classified roads in England and Wales.

Mr. Marples

I have no reason to believe there is any avoidable delay at toll bridges owned by the Commission, but if the hon. Member has any evidence of delay I will look into it with the Commission and the highway authority concerned.

Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Transport which toll bridges are affected by those provisions of Section 233 of the Highways Act, 1959, which require that the right to charge tolls in the case of toll rights transferred to a council, should be limited to the number of years allowed by the Minister; and, in each case, what will be the expiry date of the right to charge tolls.

Mr. Marples

None.

Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Transport which toll rights on highways vested in and exercisable by highway authorities were acquired otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of Section 233 of the Highways Act, 1959; and whether any limitations exist in those cases as to the duration of the period for which tolls may be charged.

Mr. Marples

The rights so acquired are as follows:

TOLL ROAD

Kewstoke Toll Road, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset

No limitations exist as the highway authority acquired this unclassified road as part of an estate.

TOLL BRIDGES

Aber Bridge, Caernarvon

This bridge on an unclassified road was built by the highway authority. There are no limitations on the period of toll charges.

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge (A. 178)

This bridge on a Class I road was constructed under powers contained in the Middlesbrough Corporation (Transporter Bridge) Act, 1907, the operating powers being re-enacted in the Middlesbrough Corporation Act, 1933, Part VII. There is no restriction on the period during which tolls may be collected but my approval is required to a variation in the toll.

Newport Transporter Bridge (B.4327)

Newport County Borough Council built the bridge on this Class II road. There are no limitations on the period of toll charges.

Tamar Bridge

This bridge was constructed under powers contained in the Tamar Bridge Act, 1957, which also provides for the collection of tolls. These may be stopped and resumed at the discretion of the Joint Committee (of Cornwall County Council and Plymouth County Borough Council). There is no limitation on the period.