The
increase in the Tyne Tunnel Tolls was agreed on
There were 136 letters of objections including
one from the Regional TUC.
A Mr David
Woodrow held a Public Inquiry into the application on the 3 April 2001
The
Inspector has supported the application but subject to modifications. He has said that the proposed arrangement of
a £1.00
toll for motorists and only £1.20 for HGV’s is unfair.
As he says there is a “subsidy to HGV users” (perhaps 60p per trip) and a “corresponding surcharge to
non-HGV users”. As was said at the
Inquiry HGV’s are much more demanding than cars, in terms of damage to the road
and tunnel, cost of inspection before they enter the tunnel and increased
congestion and delay due to their size and slow speed. The Inspector went on to say “I consider
that it would at present be wrong to justify charging tunnel car commuters
extra on grounds that they should be travelling by bus….” The Inspector also accepted that there were
problems of poverty, unemployment and general deprivation especially in South
Tyneside. He said, “I consider that
these problems are indeed substantial, and must be borne in mind when
considering any proposal that would add to them, even where the additional
burden would not be great.”
In making
the Order to increase the Tolls the Minister “recommends that the PTA consider
the Inspector’s concerns about the imbalance between the tolls for Class 2 and
Class 3 vehicles” [cars & HGV’s].
There is
no indication that the Passenger Transport Authority has taken any notice of
the concerns of the Inspector or the Minister that the motorist is subsidising
the Heavy Good Vehicles.
Efficiency
in operation
One of the
issues raised at the Inquiry was the efficiency in the operation of the
Tunnel. Questions asked; have the
staffing levels been examined? Have alternative
methods of collection of tolls been examined?
These questions brought no response from the PTA at the Inquiry. In October 2001 it was announced that the PTA
was going to reduce its staff of 126 by 28.
It would have been even more difficult to justify the increase in Tolls
if the reduction in staff had been announced before the Inquiry took place.