Hundreds join bridge march to protest toll charges
BBCAbout 200 people have taken part in a peaceful march across a bridge in opposition to increases in toll charges.
The march on Saturday was organised by the Tamar Toll Action Group, which is campaigning for lower tolls and long-term government funding for the Tamar Bridge linking Devon and Cornwall.
Operator, the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee increased standard charges from £2.60 to £3.00 in 2025 and had plans to increase monthly administration fees for regular users from 80p to £2 rejected by councillors in June.
Protester and Saltash resident Allison Hair said having to pay to go over the bridge was "not normal", it was "morally wrong", and she was "sick of it."
Protesters gathered at Alexandra Square in Saltash and marched across the bridge at 13:00 BST, alongside vehicles carrying campaign banners.
Campaign group chair Scott Slavin said the protest was organised to show a "strength in numbers" to MPs, to "deliver a message to government that people want change".
"There is a particularly strong feeling in Saltash because our postal district is paying over £2m a year in tolls, that's an enormous sum of money out of the raw economy of a small Cornish town," he said.
"It's more than twice the amount paid by the adjacent entire city of Plymouth, in fact."
Saltash resident Jacqueline Jones said she has to use the bridge because of her illnesses.
"I travel to the hospital quite regularly and then have to pay all the time to go over there, it's disgusting, it should be free," she said.
Another Saltash resident, Jean Wengradt, said there should not be a charge to cross the bridge.
"Then you wouldn't have the wages you have to pay out," she said.
"From a local's point of view, I think it should be free."
In a statement, the Department for Transport said decisions on tolls are taken by the Tamar Crossings Joint Committee and that it would "continue to work with them on any proposals to help make the crossings better for everyone".
The committee said: "We recognise and respect the right to peaceful protest."
Last month, Tamar Crossing's chief operating officer, Philip Robinson, said financing the crossing was "extremely challenging".
