The Company of Proprietors of Whitchurch Bridge
Whitchurch Bridge is owned and operated by the Company of Proprietors of Whitchurch Bridge
(commonly known as the Whitchurch Bridge Company), which is a private Company established by the
Whitchurch Bridge Act 1792 and the
Whitchurch Bridge Act 1988.
The Company is registered in England and Wales No: ZC000184.
The Registered Office is The Toll House, Whitchurch Bridge, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 7DF.
The Company Secretary is G R Weir BSc CEng MIMechE.
You may contact us by writing to the Registered Office or by email.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about the Company.
VAT (updated 25th April 2013)
In October 2012 there was a High Court hearing into the Company's claim that HM Treasury is obliged by law to refund VAT paid by the Company on goods and services provided to it. The Company lost this claim: the full Judgement is here. The Judgement (para 13) re-affirmed the status of the Company as a public body and thus does not have to charge output VAT on its Tolls, and (para 31) acknowledged the fact that Bridge users will have to pay higher Tolls because of the economic burden of input VAT.
After careful consideration of the Judgement and legal advice in relation to it, the Company has decided to submit an Application for Permission to Appeal. Only if this permission is granted will an Appeal go ahead.