Severn Bridge etc..Where does all the money go?

[Eighteeteewhy]

I just went over the Severn Bridge and the prices have gone up again. Over £12 for a van now!
It just got me thinking, there must be hundreds of thousand of £'s in cash there! Where does it all go? Picked up hourly? Daily? Weekly?

[Matt UK]

The Welsh mafia I reckon

[spaximus]

The money goes to a consortium who own both the severn crossing bridges. They built the second crossing without goverment funds on condition they got given the old bridge, which has a life span to consider, and got to keep the money from tolls. This is all as I recall it.

[cheadle hulme]

Why is it all cash? Do the spackers still not take cards?

[Plotloss]

France.

[Carpal]

Plotloss said:

France.

This


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16382595

[bristolracer]

Yep its those pesky French again.

They are starting to take cards now at some booths, I think they have tried to stick with cash as it clears the vehicles quicker.

As to maintenance on the old bridge, I went over it a few weeks ago and its more potholed than a country lane!

[pimpin gimp]

cheadle hulme said:

Why is it all cash? Do the spackers still not take cards?

I think they do, they just don't seem to advertise it. I'm sure I've seen the chip & pin things when I've been handing over my money.

[Keep it stiff]

The toll is very high but it does make you feel good if you enter Wales north of Gloucester and exit via the M4 without having to pay!

[Eighteeteewhy]

pimpin gimp said:

I think they do, they just don't seem to advertise it. I'm sure I've seen the chip & pin things when I've been handing over my money.

Nope, cash or tag.

[Maximum Bobs]

cheadle hulme said:

Why is it all cash? Do the spackers still not take cards?

They don't like cards, Dartford wont do cards & also Dartford still refuse to give receipts.

[Maximum Bobs]

Carpal said:

Plotloss said:

France.

This


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16382595

Severn river crossing plc is a consortium led by John laing plc & if a French co. is involved they are not the main recipients of the toll. I know the French are involved in the consortium that runs Dartford.

ETA. Sorry, the French are involved in the form of "gtm-entrepose" I have just learnt, but still not the main recipients.

Edited by Maximum Bobs on Sunday 8th January 15:04

[hornetrider]

Eighteeteewhy said:

Nope, cash or tag.

Incorrect. All booths now have card machines, takes forever though and doesn't seem to be widely advertised for that reason.

[Maximum Bobs]

hornetrider said:

Incorrect. All booths now have card machines, takes forever though and doesn't seem to be widely advertised for that reason.

I think it also has a lot to do with bank charges.

[Eighteeteewhy]

hornetrider said:

Incorrect. All booths now have card machines, takes forever though and doesn't seem to be widely advertised for that reason.

Really?!

[hornetrider]

Yep. I live in Chepstow and go over all the time. Used to have a season tag but not anymore as I wfh a lot these days. So I only have a PAYG tag which sometimes runs out and I occasionally resort to card if I have no cash on me.

[supertouring]

hornetrider said:

Incorrect. All booths now have card machines, takes forever though and doesn't seem to be widely advertised for that reason.

They take card on M6 toll and is just as quick as the other methods, in fact getting through is quicker at the card only booths as no-one wants to go through that one.

[Maximum Bobs]

Eighteeteewhy said:

Really?!

link said:

Tolls can be paid for by cash, debit/credit card or cheque, or by use of the Severn TAG system, which is a wireless electronic toll collection

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Severn_Crossing

ETA.. Can't get link to, erm, link.

Edited by Maximum Bobs on Sunday 8th January 15:08

[Eighteeteewhy]

hornetrider said:

Yep. I live in Chepstow and go over all the time. Used to have a season tag but not anymore as I wfh a lot these days. So I only have a PAYG tag which sometimes runs out and I occasionally resort to card if I have no cash on me.

I go over regularly with work but we have tags. Definately good to know though. Stupid that they haven't had card payment for such a long time really.

As for my original post I was thinking more literally...where does the actual money go

[Rostfritt]

Keep it stiff said:

The toll is very high but it does make you feel good if you enter Wales north of Gloucester and exit via the M4 without having to pay!

I try and do this every time I come home from the north, I feel like I am beating the system.

Also if they wanted to speed things up, why was the toll never £5? It jumped from £4.90 to £5.10. If I lived in Chepstow and used the old one regularly, I would be worried as the old one must be nearing the end of its useful life by now.