THE cost of crossing the Severn bridges will be halved in 2018 – but a local MP says the timing of the reduction will have a big impact on how much motorists pay at the tolls.

Chancellor George Osborne made the announcement during the Budget last week and it has been welcomed by MPs of all parties.

But Labour MP Jessica Morden, whose Newport East constituency includes Caldicot, said that the return of the bridges to public ownership in 2018 will mean VAT being taken off tolls which are currently £3.80 for cars.

She added: “VAT has to come off the tolls because the bridges become publicly owned in 2018, so clarity is needed about whether the announced cut is pre or post the removal of VAT.

“It is important because this could mean the difference between a toll of £3.40 or £2.80 for a car. I will be looking closely at the detail.”

Forest MP Mark Harper said: “Severn Bridge tolls represent a daily cost to many of my constituents, who use the bridges for their commute, business or personal travel.

“Given this, I welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of a future cut in toll levels.

“This will greatly benefit our tourism industry in the Forest of Dean – indeed, at the local tourism conference that I attended (recently) a reduction in Severn Bridge tolls was one of the requests made.

“Tolling has historically been the cost we paid for having both the original Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing built.

“Once the cost of building the bridges has been paid for in 2018, and the bridges return to government control, it’s quite right that the cost of the tolls should be reduced.”

Monmouth MP David Davies said: “Halving the tolls is not as much as some were hoping for but it is certainly a welcome step forward.

“There has been a lot of lobbying from all members of the Welsh Affairs Committee to bring this about and I have worked closely with cross-party colleagues, especially Jessica Morden in Newport East, for many years.

“I think it goes to show that when MPs get together to raise their voices loudly and for long enough, change can actually be achieved.

“I am very glad the government has gone much further than was originally being suggested and my main priority now is to ensure a proper handover plan is in place when the bridges revert to public ownership.

“I will also be concentrating on getting an electronic pre-pay system installed, similar to the one used for the London congestion charge, as reducing the tolls is likely to increase traffic levels and could lead to big queues on the toll plaza.

“This would take time and require government involvement – I’m not entirely satisfied that enough has been done yet.”