Why do the disabled get free passage on the Severn Bridges?

clever_username

KittyLady wrote: »

So right. And if it were possible, I'll happily trade over my blue badge and have my body and life back to anyone who wants it, I'd happily pay a few bridge fees to be me again.

Well said.

taffy056

!!!!!! wrote: »

No you didn't. However all the reasons given so far for the concession (apart from the one that enshrines it in law) are just as relevant to non-badge holders and give no validation to the positive discrimination

So are you then saying that anyone without a blue badge is being discriminated against in regards to the toll charges on the bridge? I by the way use this bridge often, I drive a fiesta van with 2 seats in it, I pay £10.90 a time for a vehicle that is basically a car, am I being discriminated against because other fiesta drivers pay £5.80 and I don't?

System

It could be seen that way.
You have a van that is a different rate to a car. If you had a fiesta van that had 4 seats and windows all around then you could pay the same as a car driver. As it is you have a VAN

taffy056

Its a car with 2 seats, it could be argued that other two seat cars are vans, like an audi tt , not that I want to get away from the discussion of the thread as they are completely different arguments

Still think its not discrimination imo in regards to non blue badge users on the bridge, it could be a moot point though as there is discussion about charges for the bridge coming up when the government takes control of it in a few years time.

clever_username

taffy056 wrote: »

Still think its not discrimination imo in regards to non blue badge users on the bridge, it could be a moot point though as there is discussion about charges for the bridge coming up when the government takes control of it in a few years time.

That bridge will never be free to use.

taffy056

clever_username wrote: »

That bridge will never be free to use.

We shall see, the current operators will reach the amount of money under the tolls in about 5 years time, then it goes back to public ownership, the government will then decide whether to abolish tolls, if they don't they can charge for a furfher 5 years maximum to fund repairs etc

But the real campaign is not really to abolish tolls, but to decrease them, one haulage company has said that it costs them about £500k a year in tolls, that is a signifigent amount for a company to compete with ones across the severn.

clever_username

taffy056 wrote: »

We shall see, the current operators will reach the amount of money under the tolls in about 5 years time, then it goes back to public ownership, the government will then decide whether to abolish tolls, if they don't they can charge for a furfher 5 years maximum to fund repairs etc

But the real campaign is not really to abolish tolls, but to decrease them, one haulage company has said that it costs them about £500k a year in tolls, that is a signifigent amount for a company to compete with ones across the severn.

Whoever owns the bridge it and it's older brother take a massive amount of money to maintain. If no tolls are charged then all that tremendous cost of maintenance comes out of the public purse.

I can't see the tolls on the bridges being abolished myself. Or dropped significantly.

esmerobbo

The first Mersey tunnel was opened in 1934 with the promise that once it was paid for it would be toll free. Then the second in 1971 the tolls are still in place. The promise is easily broken as once the initial cost is recovered they then shift costs on to maintenance.
I cant see anyone taking control of any of these toll crossings or roads including the Government, due to the cost of looking after them alone.

Jon_Tiffany

esmerobbo wrote: »

Disability concessions should be to make things equal not to gain an advantage. So it follows that others should be able to question the concession if it looks as if it an unfair advantage.

Exactly, disabled people want and should be treated equally. My mother was disabled and I know two who are confined to wheelchairs. All of them never expected to be treated any differently, in fact they sometimes found it a little degrading to be given special treatment.

Car parking spaces are a very obvious need for the disabled, but like others I can see no reason why they should get free passage.

Jon_Tiffany

esmerobbo wrote: »

The first Mersey tunnel was opened in 1934 with the promise that once it was paid for it would be toll free. Then the second in 1971 the tolls are still in place. The promise is easily broken as once the initial cost is recovered they then shift costs on to maintenance.
I cant see anyone taking control of any of these toll crossings or roads including the Government, due to the cost of looking after them alone.

Same happened with the Dartford crossing, that was paid for many years ago. Instead of making it free as promised, they put the price up!