Inquiry Held - in 2 months we will see

Well the Inquiry was held.  We had a intensize 2 days and both sides put forward their best case.  We do feel we got a fair hearing and the Inspector guided us to procedure.  However, I do feel the odds were heavily against us.  WBC had a barrister.  I got a little tired of his patronising attitude at times, but generally he was good.  We suffered by not being able to afford a barrister.  Pearl Slatter expressed it best: we were David against Goliath.

This is what we said.   We now need to wait and see what the Inspector and then the Minister says.  I wouldn’t like to bet any more than a bridge crossing on the result.   I do think we have a real chance at getting something.

Thanks to all that worked for this Inquiry.  We really hope it is worthwhile.  At the very least we have made a very clear mark in the sand.

Inquiry Dates. Please put Tue 2nd June in your diary.

Please put the morning of the Tuesday 2nd June in your diary NOW!!!!  We need you to come along to the opening of the inquiry.

We now have the dates for the public inquiry.  Tuesday and Wednesday the 2nd and 3rd of June.   It will be at the Elephant Hotel in Pangbourne.   Please try to come along for the opening on the Tuesday at the very least.  A good chance to represent the strength of feeling to the inspector. 

If you wrote a letter of objection you have the right to speak too - and cross examine the other witnesses.  We are not clear of the precise details of this yet.   The Department for Transport say that they won’t send out official notifications until 4 weeks before the inquiry, even though they have fixed the date since March.  We believe in giving you as much notice as possible.

The person who is the “Programme Manager” for the inquiry is Geoff Weir - the spokesperson and Company Secretary of the Bridge Company.  If you want to ask about the inquiry you could try asking him.  He is supposed to act of behalf of the DfT as an impartial arranger.  The DfT say there is no conflict of interest here.

270 Official Objections

270 of you took time to write and object to the Department for Transport against the toll increase.  Fantastic.  A huge number for such a rural area.  Thanks so much.  They all help.

Public Inquiry ordered

The Minister for Transport has ordered a public inquiry into the Whitchurch Toll Bridge and the latest toll increase application.  This follows the successful campaign by TollFreeze.com.  We thank everyone that wrote letters of objection to the minister.  Also thanks to MPs John Howell and Martin Salter, and Pearl Slatter of SODC, for their support.

This is just the first stage of our campaign against the toll increase.  We may have won the first battle.  We must now double our efforts to make the inquiry count.  More news on this site as it comes in.

Last chance for your view to count - plus Xmas Quiz

You’ve missed the last posting day before Xmas. But, still worth posting it off.  Likely it will still count if there just after Xmas.  Every objection counts. Read the debate here then write your letter here.

If you’ve already sent one then thanks a lot.  Have an extra mince pie and glass of port.  And look forward to 2009.

For Christmas fun, we have just dug out the archives a list of the promises the WBC made in return for Whitchurch on Thames Parish Council not objecting to the Whitchurch Bridge Act 1988.   Can you guess which former Parish Councillor, now WBC spokesperson, announced he had won the following “formalised assurances” from the WBC:

1. WBC would publish their accounts
2. The parish would always be involved in full consultations before toll increase applications
3. A time-based season ticket would be introduced, to help people that cross several times a day.

First correct answer wins another mince pie.  For bonus points, how many promises were kept?

Martin Salter MP and Clr. Pearl Slatter join protesters

Martin Salter MP joins protesters on Whitchurch Toll Bridge

Great morning leafleting passing cars at the toll bridge.  Martin Salter MP came along with film crews from ITV and BBC.  Clr. Pearl Slatter of SODC and Martin Salter both handed out leaflets alongside protestors calling for a full wide-ranging public inquiry.  See pictures on Flickr and press coverage

John Howell MP (for the other river bank) also issued a statement and sent his apologies and good wishes for the campaign.

Three Parish Councils, two Members of Parliament, one District Council; all call for a public inquiry

(headline to tune of well known Christmas song)

Our two MPs for the bridge, one from each bank (and party),  are now pressing our case, directly to the Secretary of State in the MfT, for a full wide-ranging public inquiry.  Not just into the level of tolls - but into when and what the replacement will be and even who should own it - see John Howell MP and Martin Salter MP

Also South Oxfordshire District Council called for a full public inquiry into all the issues, with a unanimous vote on a motion proposed by Clr. Pearl Slatter - full story

Last, but by no means least, Whitchurch on Thames Parish Council joined Pangbourne and Goring Heath Parish Councils in calling for the inquiry - letter of objection

But don’t let all this stop YOU from sending YOUR own objection.  We need everybody to send one.  Tell the DfT what you think.  It DOES make a difference.

Please object NOW yourself (and help us distribute leaflets to encourage others)

Please write an objection to the toll increase NOW. Please don’t think that: “others are doing so, so I won’t bother”. The more objections the better case we can make. Every objection counts.

Here are template letters for your objection: objection templates

Just download, print, fill in a few details and post. We’ve left the “reason” blank for you to fill in. That way it is much more powerful. If you want some ideas for your objection, have a look on this website or read the leaflet (below).

If you really really want to help then please help us distribute our leaflet on the toll increase to as many people as possible. There is a copy below. Please print off some copies and distribute to people around you - stick on notice boards - anywhere people that use the bridge might see it. If you want to distribute more then you can easily print, get in touch and we will give you some copies.

The leaflet: tollfreeze-flyer

The posters and flyer can also be found here

Thank you for helping.

Statement by Oxfordshire County Council

Oxfordshire have issued a statement on the bridge application.  Is this for or against?  Or does it just sit on the bridge?  Well the local election comes up in June 2009.  Rather good timing don’t you think?

Leafleting Drivers

We had a successful morning leafleting. Three of us managed to hand out almost 300 flyers to passing motorists in Whitchurch High Street between 8:00-9:15am this morning. Many thanks to Mike Scott and Melanie Hardwick for their hard work on a very cold morning. There was clearly overwhelming support for the campaign and quite a number of people said that they have already written and sent their objections.