Whitchurch Toll Bridge
It was good news that local residents won the right to a public inquiry over the proposed doubling of the tolls on the bridge but bad news that the inquiry found in favour of the increase.
Both I and Martin Salter, the then MP for the Berkshire side of the bridge, pushed for this inquiry and lobbied the Minister. We also sent a joint letter to the inquiry inspector. I've also explored the future of the bridge with the county council. The new MP for the Berkshire side, Alok Sharma MP, also supports the local residents who have been campaigning against the increase in tolls.
I supported the points made by the campaigners publicly in the pages of the Henley Standard and on the ground. In evidence to the inquiry I reiterated that this doubling of the toll represents a five-fold increase over the last six years; that for people who need to cross the bridge twice a day this represents a cost of £8 per week, and, that there is no certainty that discounts will continue.
Local councillor, Cllr Pearl Slatter, has also been at the forefront of campaigning against the increase as has the local district council, South Oxfordshire District Council.
