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.