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Tolls at ancient bridge to soar by 166 per cent
Huge increases are essential to prevent company sliding into financial ruin, says Government inspector Brian Dooks CHARGES at an ancient toll bridge used by 700,000 vehicles a year will rocket by up to 166 per cent to save the bridge company from financial ruin.
At present car drivers pay 15p to cross the River Ure by the 230-year-old Aldwark Bridge between York and Boroughbridge, but in future vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes will pay 40p.
The Department for Transport has accepted the recommendation of its inspector, Colin Tyrell, that the company running the bridge is in a "parlous state" and the increases are justified.
At a two-day public inquiry in April Mr Tyrell heard that the two directors of Aldwark Bridge Ltd – Arnold and Raymond Burton who are in their 80s – had used 179,195 of their own money in 1999 when the listed structure was closed for 14 weeks for repairs.
The following year they had formed the limited company to protect their position. But by October last year they had put 339,335 into keeping the bridge open. Tolls were last increased eight years ago when the fee for a car was increased from 8p to 15p.
The inquiry was told that if the tolls were not increased to the new figures, which include 1 for a vehicle between 3.5 tonnes and the bridge's maximum permitted weight of 7.5 tonnes, the company would have losses of 1.35m by 2012.
In addition the company would owe the bank 956,327 and the directors would be owed 372,104. The company told the inquiry that no commercial lender would support such a loss-making business and it would be forced into liquidation.
Even with the Department of Transport approved increases, the company would still have net losses of 328,449 in 2012 and would owe its directors, who had received no dividend, 329,355. Only the situation at the bank would be improved with a balance of 194,618, which would include money set aside for future repairs, including a major overhaul in 2025.
Mr Tyrell, who heard 23 objections, including one from Linton-on-Ouse Parish Council which suggested a 20p toll for a car, has concluded that although the increases would be substantial, they were significantly less than making the 21-mile diversion if the bridge closed: "I accept that the effect of increased tolls will fall heavily on some members of the community who use the bridge regularly. The concessionary tickets offered by the company help in some degree, but the increase in concessionary crossing toll from the current 10p to the proposed 25p per car is substantial in percentage terms."
He added: "I accept that without a reasonable increase in toll the company's parlous state would deteriorate and, if the directors decided to withdraw their support, it would become insolvent and the future of the bridge would be at risk.
"It seems to me that this would represent a much more serious threat to the community than the proposed increase and that it would be very substantially inconvenienced if the link were lost."
The present bridge, which dates from 1873 and replaces a structure built in 1772, is being damaged by lorries weighing up to 38 tonnes. Many have already crossed the bridge when they reach the toll booth. Mr Tyrell said only a police officer or traffic warden could enforce the 7.5 tonne limit.
Linton-on-Ouse Parish Council chairman Derrick Jauncey said he was very disappointed that the increases would make the bridge the most expensive in the UK per yard travelled.
The Transport Charges Act of 1954 includes a duty to ensure that annual revenue is not "substantially more" than required for management and maintenance. Mr Jauncey said: "We will make sure we get the company's annual reports and monitor this closely."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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