FURTHER talks on the future of the Severn bridges have taken place in London, with local business leaders and MPs in attendance.

Department for Transport Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Robert Goodwill MP, convened the meeting at the transport headquarters, Great Minster House, last Monday, following on from a similar meeting that was held by previous Roads Minister, Stephen Hammond, last July.

The principal topic of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of discounts on travel across the bridges for local users.

However, the tolls and discounts on the bridge are covered by the Severn Bridges Act 1992 and, in a document seen by the Review, the Under Secretary of State said: "New discounts would not be possible without renegotiating the current concession arrangement."

Don Burgess, of Freeminer Brewery in Cinderford, attended the meeting as a local representative of the Federation of Small Businesses.

After the meeting he said: "It was an interesting meeting, but without any true clear outcomes. But we have had a chance to highlight this situation at the highest possible level, and I do hope that in some way we can influence the position on bridge tolls for local businesses.

"We will carry on fighting the corner for local businesses in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, and keep on stating our case. We await their response."