A proposed increase to the Tamar Tag administration fee has been put on hold after councillors agreed to launch a public consultation before any final decision is made.
The Tamar Crossings Joint Committee met on Monday 12 January for an extraordinary meeting to consider changes to the monthly Tamar Tag account administration fee.
Members agreed that no decision will be taken until a full public consultation and engagement exercise has been completed. During this period, the Tamar Tag admin fee will remain at 80 pence per month.
Consultation to give residents and drivers a voice
The consultation will allow residents, Tamar Tag users and key stakeholders to share their views on future options for the crossings, including the previously proposed increase to the monthly admin fee.
A budget of up to £10,000 has been approved to deliver the consultation, funded from existing allocations. The findings will be reported back to a future meeting of the Joint Committee.
Councillors said the process is intended to support open and meaningful dialogue, helping to balance affordability for local people with the need to maintain safe, reliable and sustainable crossings.
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Push for cheaper and toll-free crossings remains
Committee members reaffirmed their long-term ambition to make the Tamar crossings cheaper for local people, and ultimately toll-free, particularly for residents of South East Cornwall, who they say are disproportionately affected by the charges.
However, the committee acknowledged that removing tolls or freezing fees long term would require external funding or full cost recovery to support essential maintenance and future investment in both the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry.
MPs and government urged to step in
As part of the discussion, the Joint Chairs confirmed they will write to MPs and the Secretary of State for Transport to request government support.
They are calling for the introduction of a Devon and Cornwall Infrastructure Revenue Grant of £499,999 per year to support the Tamar Crossings.
The crossings are currently entirely toll-funded, with no central government support, despite the Tamar Bridge forming part of key highway routes between Devon and Cornwall.
MPs Anna Gelderd, Fred Thomas, Luke Pollard and Ben Maguire, along with senior officers from both councils, will be asked to explore what support central government could provide to reduce costs and avoid future toll or fee increases.
Financial pressures highlighted
The Joint Committee also outlined the financial pressures facing the crossings.
It has a legal duty to maintain a balanced budget and hold a prudent reserve of £3 million. Current forecasts show reserves falling below £1.4 million by March 2026, with the risk of moving into deficit in subsequent years if no action is taken.
Councillors said these figures underline the need for consultation and wider discussion about funding the crossings in the future.
Tamar Crossings encourages public involvement
Chief Officer Philip Robinson, who will lead the consultation, said the process would provide greater clarity around the proposed fee increase and possible alternatives.
“I welcome the opportunity to consult with users of the crossings and local residents and provide some further detail and context over the proposal to increase the Tag Administration fee, as well as detail around the alternatives to raising income.
I encourage everyone to get involved. In the meantime, our work to reduce operating costs will continue at pace.”
Updates on the consultation will be published on the Tamar Crossings website.
