Residents urged to object to rise in Clifton Suspension bridge toll
A CAMPAIGNER is urging people to object to the planned toll increase on the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
On August 1 the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust submitted their application to increase the toll from 50p to £1 per crossing. People have until September 12 to submit their objections.
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David Newman, who is campaigning against the proposed rise in tolls at the Clifton Suspension Bridge
David Newman, who has been a resident of Leigh Woods for 30 years, believes that the price hikes are unnecessary and will have a knock-on effect for residents and motorists on alternative routes.
He told the Post that he was worried that the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust was using the money to pay for "vanity projects", such as the planned heritage and learning centre.
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The trust insisted that the rise was solely to deal with increasing operational and maintenance costs and had nothing to do with other projects.
Mr Newman, 58, who was an objector at a public inquiry into the last price rise, said: "If Bristolians allow this to go ahead unopposed it will not only have a devastating effect on their pockets, it will also have a dramatic impact on traffic flow in Clifton, the Cumberland Basin, Hotwells, Bower Ashton, Leigh Woods, Abbots Leigh, Pill, and the wider North Somerset area.
"The most clear consequence of the 100 per cent rise is that most motorists will stop using the bridge. As a result the Portway, the A369 and routes from the M5 will seize up in gridlock.
"Additionally, drivers, while cutting through Clifton, will bring dangerous pressure to 'rat runs' where families are already struggling to get their children to school safely."
Mr Newman added that he does not believe the trust needs the extra revenue that would be generated by a toll hike to carry out its job of maintaining the bridge.
He said: "The bridge already has a large cash reserve. The problem is that the trustees can't help making their own spin-off vanity projects like the ill-fated monstrosity of a visitor centre."
David Anderson, the Clifton Suspension Bridgemaster, said that a new heritage and learning centre, which would include an exhibition space around three times the size of the one in the current temporary accommodation, was not being paid for by the latest price rise.
He said that the money was taken from reserves built up over the years with the help of a possible heritage lottery grant.
He added: "The money raised from the new toll will be used purely for the maintenance and operating costs of the bridge – which continue to rise year-on-year. We only carry out work that is essential with this money and for this we must obtain the sufficient amount of income."
Mr Anderson also stressed that the discounts on the frequent users cards will still be "generous" and have only risen with inflation.
The price of 1,000 crossings is set to rise from £320 to £350, while 100 crossings will go up from £43 to £50 after stagnating for three years.
He also added that he doesn't believe that a price increase for casual users will put people off using the bridge and subsequently block alternative routes.
He said: "We hope that the rise will actually make people realise that there is a lot of important and expensive work to be done on the bridge which requires extra funds. It may also encourage people to buy a card which can significantly reduce their costs when using the bridge regularly."
The toll has been set at 50p per crossing since January 2007. If the new rise is approved by the Department for Transport (DfT), the price could change before the end of the year.
The National Alliance Against Tolls has urged people to stand up to the price rises by writing to the DfT.
John McGoldrick, the alliance's co-ordinator, said: "The biggest problem we have with the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust is that a large portion of their money seems to go on other activities instead of purely maintenance.
"It makes us ask why are the trust expecting drivers to fork out and pay for this?"
To make a formal objection to the increase, an email or letter can be written to the DfT via julian. smith@dft.gsi.gov.uk or Secretary of State for Transport, c/o Julian Smith, Department for Transport Zone, 2-14 Horseferry Rd, London, SW1 P4DR.
Comments
by avonside40
Friday, August 31 2012, 9:29AM
“Yes, the bridge brings tourists to view it and cross it, but it is not just some piece of tourist architecture. It is (as I think we all agree) a rather important piece of Bristol's transport network. So how much money DOES the taxpayer/council/DfT actually contribute to it?”
by Gurt86
Friday, August 31 2012, 7:56AM
“The Bridge brings revenue to the city in the form of tourism, so the burden of maintenance should not be borne solely by motorists. To do so essentially brands the bridge as a means to end, not an iconic piece of historical engineering that is part of both the City and the country's heritage.”
by BCFCfinker
Thursday, August 30 2012, 10:14PM
“The books are out by 2 years, not much use then are they?
£5 million is designated as emergency funds, therefore they aren't available for other projects etc.
There is a pension liability to BANES.
The guy looks like a serial complainer.
We'd soon complain if the thing fell down or closed due to maintenance issues.
It's paying for itself and not getting tax payers money.
This will be examined by an independent body who will consider the application and objections.
If they say it's Ok to bump up the price, then it goes up to a £1.
A point to note, TP didn't say if people who support the price hike can also contact the DfT. Strange that.”
by Marshwalker99
Thursday, August 30 2012, 5:55PM
“Took a peek at those accounts. They are for the year ended 31 Dec 2010 and are the latest available. They were filed around 7 Oct 2011, so we should expect the 2011 accounts to appear pretty soon. Maybe they will shed more light.
However, the 2010 a/cs do show a pretty much liquid surplus fund of £8.3 million. This is an increase in the year of £1.5m. Of the surplus, £7.6m is "designated". The designated amount includes £5m for any emergency repairs which might arise.
Regarding the 700k balance remaining out of the surplus, the a/cs state that, "remaining funds are sufficient to cover short term deficiencies in income as and when the arise".
So, based on this information, a proposal to increase the toll by 100%, seems to me, to be 100% unjustifiable and should be thrown out.”
by avonside40
Thursday, August 30 2012, 5:20PM
“My understanding was that the CSBT used to charge pedestrians and cyclists for crossing - I think it was 2p, at the time. They found that collecting it was too onerous and gave up - after all, how many people would have to cross the bridge at 2p a time to pay the salary of the bloke who had to give change...?”
by Rockyruss
Thursday, August 30 2012, 4:41PM
“Hi let charge the walkers to then Ref Tody 123”
by Tody123
Thursday, August 30 2012, 3:50PM
“Rather than place the burden of this rise solely on the motorist, I would like to know why, that although the bridge is supposed to collect tolls from cyclists, they don't bother.
If there is too be such a high rise, the cyclists must pay their way also.”
by matic_113
Thursday, August 30 2012, 3:41PM
“100% a stick-on moustache”
by SamySheep
Thursday, August 30 2012, 3:38PM
“Although I don't relish the idea of a price-rise, the fact is that this is one of the most iconic bridges/structures in the world. I am proud to live here every time I travel across the it, so all in all I will just lump the increase. This would be a far poorer place if it weren't here, and I'm looking forward to being able to use the new centre & waste some money on overpriced tat.
If the Portishead is ever opened, this would surely help matters, and there are other routes, so vote with your 'feet'.”
by Charlespk
Thursday, August 30 2012, 1:39PM
“When is this city going to stop continually wasting money on its crackpot congestion-mongering schemes and stop this blatant use of the city's motorists as milch cows?
Is it any wonder that when nearly a third of the city population are public-sector workers and not part of productive part of society generating income, that it is constantly running out of money to do running maintenance.”