Public inquiry into Whitchurch Bridge toll rise

A PUBLIC inquiry into toll rises on the Whitchurch Bridge will be held in May.

The Whitchurch Bridge Company, which owns and operates the privately-owned structure, has applied to increase its Class 1 Toll from 40p to 60p to help cover the higher-than- expected costs of repairing the 113-year-old bridge.

The bridge was scheduled to be closed for six months from October 2013 but a combination of the winter floods and opening the River Thames delayed the reopening until September 2014.

The company said that it regretted that a toll increase was necessary and that bridge users could be assured that the Secretary of State for Transport will only approve the increase if it is believed to be justified.

The inquiry will be held from 10am on Tuesday, May 19, in The George Hotel in Pangbourne.