TOLLS on the Severn crossings will go up this week, despite a public petition and calls by MPs for a freeze "in the national interest" to protect recession-hit business on this side of the river.

The rise comes despite a freeze on tolls on other bridges in the UK, including the local authority owned Humber, where a bar on any rise was imposed by the government in the name of trying to help the area out of recession.

Welsh assembly member, Michael German, said he learned the annual increase would go ahead in a letter from Sadiq Khan, Minister of State for Transport.

"The Minister's admission in the letter shows that the government didn't even try to look at freezing the tolls. We got the short straw again. There is a growing sense of injustice about the high tolls people are forced to pay here."

Supporters of an early day motion for the freeze (which didn't include Forest MP, Mark Harper) were led by Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central) and supported by the likes of Lembit Opik (Montgomery) and Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire).

Ed Townsend, Lib Democrat candidate for Newport East and Severnside said: "The UK Government is all too willing to help out Yorkshire and freeze bridge tolls there until 2011. For us, they didn't even bother to try."

Adrian Forester, representing local haulier, Richard Read, which runs 18 trucks and tippers using the Severn from bases in Longhope and Cinderford, said: "This is obviously going to affect all transport. It is only the usual 10p rise, but it is all part of the climbing costs that are going to affect all of us."

Chepstow councillor, Phil Hobson, said: "We don't understand this. The freeze on tolls on the Humber was described as being in the national interest, but it isn't in the national interest to freeze the highest bridge tolls in the country in the middle of the worst recession this country has known? Obviously not."

Mr Hobson said bridge tolls on both Severn Bridges are set by the Severn Bridges Act 1992 and adjusted on the Retail Prices Index, but a freeze could have been imposed in agreement with the concessionaire - Severn River Crossing PLC - although this would very marginally affect the point when the concession for the bridges is renegotiated, when £1bn revenue is reached in about 2016.

"I think it would be fair to say the government didn't even bother talking to them," he said.

Tolls on both bridges go up from £5.40 to £5.50 for cars and motor caravans, and from £16.30 to £16.40 for HGV's and buses. The equivalent on the Humber Bridge is £2.70 for cars and about £14.60 for HGV's depending on size and number or axles.