PLANS to increase the cost of concessionary crossing tolls on the Tamar Bridge by 40 per cent have been branded 'appalling'. The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Committee is looking at the possibility of increasing the TamarTag tolls across the bridge from 50p to 70p per journey from January of next year. The committee is also looking at the possibility of increasing cash tolls in 2010. Bridge general manager David List revealed the proposed increases to committee members at a meeting in Saltash Guildhall. He said there would be a public consultation on the proposals before a final decision was made. The news has been greeted with anger in South East Cornwall, especially Saltash where many of the town's residents use the bridge as a way of getting to work in Plymouth. Saltash's Caradon district councillor Joe Ellison said: 'I think it is entirely wrong. 'It will affect the people of Saltash very badly as we all have TamarTags. It is absolutely appalling.' His disappointment was echoed by Caradon District Council's ambassador for transport, cllr Paul Adams, who said: 'It is regrettable that any price increase should occur but you would have to look at the reasons behind the decision.'
