Tamar Toll Revision Public Inquiry – TTAG Objection Evidence Submitted

The Application

On April 15th 2024, the Tamar Crossings submitted an Application for a Toll Revision Order to the Transport Secretary. As part of this process, the public have a right to raise objections to the application and submit them to the Transport Secretary’s case officer.

Encouraged by us, 410 people did so. We are encouraged by this as this figure is almost three times the number of objections received against the 2019 Toll Revision Application.

On July 23rd, objectors were notified that the application was to go to a Public Inquiry on October 15th at the Copthorne Hotel in Plymouth. As stated in the below notification, objectors were given until September 6th to submit further evidence for consideration by the Inquiry Inspector. Read on for our submissions.

Our Evidence

TTAG has submitted two sets of additional evidence, as detailed below. Both submissions are detailed in a covering letter.

Submission 1

On August 21st, TTAG submitted the first set of objection evidence against the application

• TTAG Tamar Toll Revision Application – Evidence letter August 2024

Annexes to Submission

1. Annex A – Extract – General Managers Quarterly Report (7-12-2018)
2. Annex B – Extract General Managers Quarterly Report (19-07-2024)
3. Annex C1 – Extract 2024 25 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme Appendix 1 to 3
4. Annex C2 – Extract 2024 25 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme Appendix 1 to 3
5. Annex E1 – Extract 2023 Tamar Toll Consultation results from Public reports pack for 8th December JC meeting
6. Annex E2 – Extract 2023 Tamar Toll Consultation results from Public reports pack for 8th December JC meeting

Submission 2

On September 4th, TTAG submitted a second set of objection evidence against the application. As described above, all additional evidence is to be considered by the Inspector prior to the Public Inquiry on October 15th 2024.

• TTAG Tamar Toll Revision Application Evidence letter September 2024 – Public

Annexes to Submission

1. Annex A – 2019 Inquiry Inspectors report
2. Annex B – CBL Objection Evidence Letter and Annexes
3. Annex C – Cornwall Integrated Care Board FOI 99510 cover letter & response
4. Annex D1 – Correspondence from Saltash Health Centre Aug 2024
5. Annex D2 – Correspondence from Saltash Health Centre Feb 2023
6. Annex E – Current and former toll bridges
7. Annex F1 – Public Question to TB&TF Joint Committee meeting 22072024
8. Annex F2 – Public Question to TB&TF Joint Committee meeting 23062023
9. Annex G – A38-Case-for-Action-The-Wider-Economic-Case-Technical-Report
10. Annex H1 – Sheryll Murray letter December 2022
11. Annex H2 – Letter from Minister Tolhurst to Cormwall and Plymouth Councils
12. Annex H3 – ZA30739 – Cornwall Council Response
13. Annex I – Liskeard Town Council Clerk email
14. Annex J – Liskeard Town Council Report 2018
15. Annex K1 – Email to Tamar Toll Action Group re Impact of bridge on Saltash Community School
16. Annex K2 – Saltash Community School Toll Concerns
17. Annex L – Tag values & toll increases (by post district and constituency) Jan23
18. Annex M – South-East Cornwall Deprivation
19. Annex N – Cornwall Council Meeting minutes 20 Feb 2024
20. Annex O – China Fleet Country Club, Tamar Toll Objection Letter

The Tamar Crossings Rebuttal statement

The Tamar Crossings Rebuttal can be read on their website at this link. It repeats many of the claims made in their original application but also adds the threat of a reduced service if their demands are not met by the Inquiry Inspector.

So, what next?

It is our intention to have a member of the TTAG committee present for every day that the Inquiry continues (we expect it to last more than one day). Also to hold a public protest on Day 1. We therefore encourage all of our supporters to attend with us for this protest against the toll increase on the first day of the inquiry. More details to follow.

Thank you to all of the businesses, Cornwall Councillors and members of the public who have supported our campaign, also to those who have attended our various meetings to discuss presentation of additional evidence and the impact of the crossings, the outdated toll collection method and the congestion that the toll collection is the principle cause of.