I DON'T just wish I didn't have to pay the Severn Bridge toll fee. My blood boils at the inequality of having to pay it!

Those of us who use the Severn crossings wonder why the examples below don't attract charges or at least equal charges:

Following the third battle of Newbury a nine mile bypass was built around the town and completed in 1988. Including security costs, the final total was put at around £100 million. The bypass didn't attract a toll though.

The Barnstaple Western bypass has a 409 metre bridge over the River Taw costing £3.7m. It opened in 2007 at a cost of £42m. No toll is charged to cross this bridge.

The M25 cost £909 million. It opened 22 years ago without a toll charge.

The Dartford crossing is not officially part of the M25 so attracts a toll. In 1988 it cost £45 million. It is 2.87 miles long. (Just a bit longer than the old Severn Bridge). Toll charges are £1.50. Locals can also claim for reduced fees. From 10pm-6am it is free.

Locally the best estimate I can find for the cost of improvements to the A417/419 Gloucester to Swindon road is £150 million. It opened in 1994 again without a toll charge.

I can't find information on the date of construction or cost of the Gloucester Northern bypass. All I know is luckily we don't have to pay a toll to use it.

The new Severn crossing cost £428 million including additional roads and services to make the crossing possible. In total it is 5.12 miles long. The old Severn Bridge cost £8 million in 1966 and is 2.68 miles long.

Projects will get done where there is a profit to be made.

The M6 £900 million development was the first privately funded motorway. The very expensive M6 road toll fee is £4.50 reducing to £3.50 11.30pm-6am. It stretches 26 miles from J11 Cannock, Staffordshire, rejoining the M6 at Coleshill, Warwickshire.

Taking into account cost of construction, length of roads and locals reduction I think we should be paying about £1 to cross the old Severn Bridge. Even that still has an element of inequality about it as, for example, Barnstaple does not have a toll.

This isn't a political thing. I think most of us would expect our MP to fight for equality for the citizens he represents. Why should there be any different between a road and a bridge? Either all new projects attract a toll or tolls should be scrapped. There should certainly be a level playing field (or road bridge in this case).

I'd be very interested to know Mr Harper's estimate of how much the road fund licence would need to increase to end toll charges. After all, no one can travel far without coming across some new construction. – Dave Lucas, Lydney.