Whitchurch Bridge Toll Protest

photo by Hayly Dowsett

There was a fantastic turn out this morning between 8am-9am. Around 30-40 people turned up (and one troll) to protest the new 40p cash toll and to publicise the new petition to get Oxfordshire County Council to use their powers under the Highways Act to remove the toll from Whitchurch Bridge. There was an overwhelmingly positive reception from the bridge users and well over 250 people had already signed the petition online/by text/on paper within the first few hours of its launch!

If you haven’t already done so please sign the petition on-line.

There was excellent press presence with BBC South TV and the Henley Standard both sending journalists and video cameras for interviews. There has also been much telephone follow-up and we expect good newspaper coverage this week. BBC Radio Oxford interviewed a protester for around 5 minutes live on-air this morning on their morning show.

Sign the Petition

The online petition has been launched to call on Oxfordshire County Council to use their powers under the Highways Act to remove the tolls from the Whitchurch Bridge.
Please encourage all those who care about the excessive toll rises to sign it. You can sign the petition here.

Tolls rise to 40p

Today we heard that the toll will rise to 40p, as requested by the bridge company.  The full inspector’s report is posted on this site.   Although we succeeded in getting many of our points across, we were hamstrung by the current law, which, in the words of the inspector, is “illogical”.  Why is this?   Basically, the more the bridge company messes up in rebuilding the bridge - the worse their planning - the higher the cost of reconstruction - the current law says that they are entitled to make MORE not less money from the bridge.

The current law, as he inspector said himself, is”illogical”.  But in the end he had to follow that law.  And so the bridge got its way.  Again.  As a result, the bridge company will gain with a massive increase in the value of their shares.  They have a way to make free money, guaranteed by law, so they do.  We estimate as much as 56.7% return per year.

“I agree with those objectors who recognised the illogically of a company becoming more valuable as its principle asset nears the end of its life and when the cost of its replacement is escalating, but the fact of the matter is that this is a consequence of the amendments made by the 1988 Act which effectively values the right to provide and operate the crossing.”  - Inspector’s report from inquiry

Who could stop this?  Oxfordshire County Council.  They have the power to stop it now.  Law exists that will let them take over the bridge and make it like all the other hundreds of bridges they do look after.   But they won’t.  They sit on their hands.  Easier to do nothing.

If you don’t like the increase, write to them now.  Write to keith.mitchell@oxfordshire.gov.uk - leader of the council.  Ask him:-

1. Why won’t the council step in and remove the toll from this bridge, like all the hundreds of tolls that were removed from the county  in the 1870’s.

2. Why his bridge department continue to make money advising the bridge company, whilst all the rest of us have to pay the higher toll.

3. Why his bridge department have given such bad advice, that the estimated cost of construction of the bridge has more than trebled in a few years, far too late for the tolls to pay for it without this massive increase.

We will continue to work to remove the toll from this bridge.  Please help us in any way you can.

Please sign the petition to call on Oxfordshire County Council to use their powers under the Highways Act to remove the tolls from the Whitchurch Bridge.

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.