STAFF unions have been told that the Welsh Government has reached an eleventh-hour deal with Pembrokeshire County Council to keep the abolition of tolls on track for April 1.
The Council Cabinet is due to meet tomorrow to ratify the terms of the deal.
The deal includes payments towards the maintenance of both Westfield Pill and the Cleddau Bridge of £3m p.a. subject to a review in 20 years.
The Welsh Government will also make a one-off payment to cover the cost of abolishing the tolls, including changes to infrastructure and redundancy costs.
Economy and Transport Secretary, Ken Skates said:
“I am confident abolishing the tolls on the Cleddau Bridge will serve to accelerate local economic growth, better connect businesses and communities, and make it easier and cheaper for people to travel to access quality employment opportunities.
“Indeed a study commissioned by Pembrokeshire County Council shows the removal of the tolls will support the areas economic development strategy, providing a boost to its local economy, to the Enterprise Zone and to the small and medium-sized enterprises in the area.
“We recognise the decision to abolish the tolls will have implications both on the Council’s budget and on the employment status of the majority of those workers who have been manning the booths.
“With this in mind we have offered the Council a generous deal of £3m per annum to cover loss of revenue as well as additional funding to cover costs and toll infrastructure removal.”
Paying tribute to the staff who will be affected by the toll removal, Ken Skates added:
“The Council is making every effort to deploy the toll staff who will be affected by this change. I would like to thank them for their public service and wish them every success in the future.”
