Severn Bridge Tolls | Card Payments delayed over "irrelevant row"

12.00.00am GMT Wed 18th Mar 2009

Michael German says the intorduction of card payments for tolls is being held up for no good reason

A leading member of the National Assembly for Wales has welcomed the comments by the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, that it was "plainly absurd" that bridge user across the Severn could not use debit and credit cards to pay Severn bridges tolls.

Michael German, local Welsh Lib Dem Assembly Member for the Gwent area, whose has led the campaign "Ditch Cash Only" to get cards accept for toll payments on the both bridges into Wales, said he was "delighted" that the First Minister had finally agreed with him that there was a need for urgent action.

Speaking from the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, Mr. German said, "We've been waiting for years for the First Minister to utter the words that it is plain stupid that bridge users could not pay by card to cross."

"We're in the 21st century, the technology exists. However, we seen delay after delay and excuses as to why card payments cannot be accepted. Now we understand there's a disagreement between the bridge company and the UK Government over who will pay for the card processing fees."

Speaking about the latest delay, Mr. German said that it was "irrelevant" who would pay the processing fees: "The bridge operators have a complete monopoly on the bridges and with that exclusive right, it is clear who should be paying. Rather than approaching this with an attitude of 'What's best for us?' they should be looking at themselves and asking 'What's best for our customers?'".