A BID to change the way in which tolls are collected on the Severn Bridge has been block­ed — despite a claim that it would take lorries off Forest roads. 

Deputy leader of the Forest Council, Cllr Brian Robinson (Con, Mit­cheldean) asked the council to back his call for the reintroduction of two-way tolling on the bridge. 

But his motion was defeated — with one councillor saying lorries using the Forest to avoid the toll was “a myth”. 

Cllr Robinson said he wanted to ask Transport Minister Andrew Jones to use his powers to bring back tolls in each direction. 

He said: “I would like to send a request to the transport minister to charge tolls in a free-flow style which means tolls are charged automatically when vehicles cross the bridge both ways. 

“People use the bridge in only one direction and take the opportunity to avoid the toll.  “What that does is bring extra traffic onto the Forest of Dean roads. 

“I’m not advocating what the tolls should be and the reason for that (is) we want to get a message to the Transport Minister that whatever the toll is, there is a better way of charging for it. 

“It’s the Transport Minister’s decision on how that toll is collected — we would completely change that if we went up with a request to collect less. 

“From Highways England we understand that 25 per cent of traffic is coming across the first crossing which highlights the value of that bridge to people in the southern part of the Forest and the east part of Wales.” 

Opposing the motion, Cllr Alan Grant (UKIP, Pillowell) — who works in the haulage industry — said two-way tolling would increase traffic through the Forest and would not cut queues on the bridge. 

He said: “I think there is a myth that lorries use the Forest roads to avoid the roads. Most companies and drivers would rarely use these roads to avoid the toll charges because the Forest roads are slow, hilly, windy and a bit difficult to drive and there are low bridges on the A48. 

“Two-way tolling is likely to increase traffic using Forest roads to avoid the tolls and would slow down traffic heading east and dramatically increase pollution in the toll areas. 

“While technology can assist with helping traffic flow more freely it doesn’t remove queues completely. The Dartford Crossing uses a system of pre-payment and number plate recognition, yet last Friday at 10.30pm I had a delay of 15 minutes.”

But Cllr Marrilyn Smart (Con, English Bicknor and Christchurch) said it was “nonsense” to deny lorries used local roads to avoid the tolls. 

Cllr Len Lawton (Con, Newent Central) said the letter to the minister should also call for a reduction in tolls. 

The motion was defeated by 18 votes to 14.