CORNWALL councillors representing Callington and Calstock have vowed to fight an increase of 30 per cent in the tolls over the Tamar Bridge voted through last week.

Cllrs Andrew Long (Callington) and Dorothy Kirk (Calstock) both feel the increases are unfair on commuters to Plymouth from the areas they serve.

Cllr Long said: ‘I shall be fighting against this if I can because I still do not think we should be paying a toll where there is no alternative crossing for most people in Cornwall.’

Plymouth City Council voted on Monday last week (January 24) to increase tolls from £2 to £2.60 for cash users and from £1 to £1.30 for discounted tags. The increase in tag rates could come in the next few months while the hike for cash tolls will not come into effect until January 2023. The decision was made reluctantly by Plymouth’s full council, who feel the Government should subsidise the service.

Tamar Crossings, the organisation which operates the bridge and the Torpoint Ferry, appealed to the Government last July for a contribution, but the request was turned down.

At present the maintenance of the bridge comes directly from tolls paid by motorists.

Use of the crossings plummeted as a result of covid, resulting in a large drop in revenue, according to Tamar Crossings.

Roadworks have been ongoing on the bridge for much of this time. Tolls were last increased in 2019.