It is not clear whether Gerald Morgan (Review March 11) is a regular user of the Severn Bridge on his way to Trinity College Dublin but I agree in principle that £6 or more is a lot of money for crossing a 40 year old bridge which has paid for itself. The Scottish Parliament has abolished the Forth Bridge tolls since 2008.

But there is more to this beyond blaming the present government or the Forest MP. For the record, the tolls continue to pay for building the second crossing. The taxpayer also picked the tabs for repairs to the 40 year old bridge in 2006 understood to be £25m.

One might find fault with the contractual arrangements with the bridge management company and which government contract is beyond reproach, but the fact remains that it is tied to it until 2016.

Mr Morgan may not realise that from Dublin, but the Severn crossing was built during the Wilson era to extend the M4 and open up the South Wales industrial belt and bring employment as the days of coal mining were seen to be numbered. The population of the Forest of Dean, particularly those that find the bridge a convenience are relatively small.

For many in the Forest of Dean particularly north of Blakeney, crossing over at Gloucester is a cost and time-effective solution. It is free to go eastwards and one can return via Gloucester to save the toll. Or looking at it another way the toll is a return ticket and well worth the fuel savings with petrol over £6 a gallon.

Looking at failed projects like the Channel Tunnel, major infrastructure should be built by the industry that promote them and paid for by users. Charges should tail off as debt is repaid and government should safeguard public interest by curbing excess greed.

– Venk Shenoi, Blaisdon.