Tamar Bridge poll response
The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee have responded to the League's request for information following toll increases on the Tamar Bridge out of Cornwall and several complaints about the increases to the branch from members.
The League also wrote to the Department of Transport recently enquiring if the Highways Commission had considered taking over the management of the bridge. Members of the League have said that when the bridge was erected in 1961, it was promised that tolls would stop after five years – a promise that the current Tamar Bridge Committee say they have no record of.
The full text of the letter to the League General Secretary is set out below.
Dear Mr Tal-e-bot
Tamar Bridge Toll Increases and Signs
I respond to your request for information using your numbering as follows:
(1. How many complaints have the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee received since the increases in toll were announced last year?)
We are required to follow a statutory process to raise tolls, the formal application is associated with an advertisement and a Statutory consultation period. Comments and objections are directed to the Department of Transport. It is a matter of public record that the Inspector at the subsequent Public Inquiry recognised 103 objections (see (voir le site) The Department of Transport is the "owner of this information and any FOI request related to these objections must be directed to that Department. Subsequent to the announcement that our application had been approved, 40 email comments were received and no postal comments.
(2. How many of the above complaints were from an address in Cornwall, of those complaints where an address was provided?)
Of the 40 emailed comments, only 4 contained a postal address and of these 4 emails with postal addresses, 2 gave an address in Cornwall.
(3. Is any member of staff (paid or otherwise) from Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee, in receipt of an annual bonus?)
No
(4. Has the Highways Agency approached the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee about taking control of the bridge?)
No
To represent each of the joint owners of the Tamar Bridge, the respective Authority's crest was placed on the bridge towers. Whilst the Plymouth crest was refurbished following the works to strengthen and widen the bridge, the then Cornwall County Council indicated that they wished to supplement the crest with a bilingual "Welcome to Cornwall" sign. Plymouth City Council have not indicated that they wish to supplement the current City Council crest.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Vallance
Business Manager
Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee
Tamar Bridge Office
Plymouth"
Related articles on Celtic News:
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
20/06/10
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