THE SEVERN bridge tolls are a tax on going to work, a tax on doing business and a tax on visiting Wales – it’s time to bring an end to this tax. Successive Westminster governments have failed to stand up for Welsh interests in the past and will continue to fail to do so in the future. Welsh priorities are not Westminster priorities.

After the election Westminster needs to explain its plans after 2018 in relation to the Severn Bridge tolls and to clarify whether it intends to keep charging up to 2027 and beyond. We simply cannot rely on the Department for Transport to act to further our interests at all.

Preparations for the end of the privately administered toll franchise need to start now. Full control of the toll bridges should be devolved to the National Assembly; a Plaid Cymru Government in Cardiff would reduce the tolls to around £2.

Jonathan T Clark, Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Candidate for Monmouth Constituency