Tolls
Under the Whitchurch Bridge Act 1792 and the
Whitchurch Bridge Act 1988, the
Whitchurch Bridge Company is empowered to collect Tolls at any time to finance
its operations. However, Tolls are normally collected only from 7am until
9pm on weekdays, 8am to 8pm on Saturdays, and 9am to 8pm on Sundays. Tolls are collected at the Toll Booth at the Whitchurch-on-Thames (north) end of
the Bridge.
Tolls may be paid in cash, or through one of the Company's concessionary prepayment systems which offer substantial discounts to Bridge users based on Bridge Cards (for vehicles not exceeding 3.5 tonnes mgw) and books of prepaid tickets (for vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes mgw)
Details of the Toll payment systems are shown below. Click here for FAQ's.
Cash Tolls (revised 26th October 2009)
The cash Tolls are:
| Class | Description | Cash Toll |
| Class 1 | Vehicles not exceeding 3.5 tonnes mgw | 40p |
| Class 2 | Vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes mgw, up to 7.5 tonnes mgw | £3 |
There is no charge for pedestrians, cycles or motorcycles. There is a statutory weight limit of 7.5 tonnes mgw on the Bridge.
Regulation of Cash Tolls (revised 26th October 2009)
The Company’s Tolls are regulated under the Transport Charges etc (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1954. Tolls may only be increased when permission has been
applied for by the Company by means of a Toll Application, and approval given by
the Secretary of State for Transport in the form of a Department for Transport
Toll Order.
The current Tolls were sought by the Company in its Toll Application dated 31st October 2008. The Secretary of State for Transport ordered a Public Inquiry into this Toll Application which was held on 2nd/3rd June 2009. The findings of the Public Inquiry were reported to the Secretary of State in the Inspector's Report (this copy supplied to us excludes the Appendices). The Secretary of State subsequently issued a Decision Letter dated 12th October 2009 approving the increase in regulated Tolls sought by the Company and issued a Department of Transport Toll Order No. 2729 dated 12th October 2009. The Company implemented the current Tolls on Monday 26th October 2009.
Concessionary Tolls (revised 7th
June 2010)
The Company offers concessionary discounted Tolls for all Bridge users as
follows:
A. Class 1 users (ie vehicles not exceeding 3.5 tonnes mgw)
Concessionary Tolls are offered through Bridge Cards. The concessionary Toll for Bridge Card holders changed from 13.89p to 20p on Monday 1st March 2010, to help fund the reconstruction of the Bridge in 2011-12. The new rate will apply to purchases of Bridge Cards and top-ups made on and from Monday 1st March. The "uses remaining" already on existing Bridge Cards as at 2359hrs on Sunday 28th February 2010 will remain intact until they are all used up.
The Company has introduced an additional Concessionary scheme for Bridge Card holders who need to cross the Bridge frequently. The Frequent User Scheme allows any registered Bridge Card holder unlimited usage of their Bridge Card without the inconvenience of topping up at the Toll Booth for just £18 per month, which is less than 60p or 3 crossings per day.
Details of the Concessionary Tolls for Class 1 users are as follows:
| Description | Cost |
|
Initial Purchase of a Bridge Card Pack Includes £10 (returnable) deposit for your Bridge Card, plus £10 credit for crossings at the discounted rate applicable at the time of purchase. At the current discounted rate of 20p, £10 gives you 50 crossings. |
£20 |
|
Bridge Card Top-up Adds £10 credit to your Bridge Card Account for crossings at the discounted rate applicable at the time of purchase. At the current discounted rate of 20p, £10 gives you 50 crossings. You may top-up only when your "uses remaining" is 40 or less. |
£10 |
|
Frequent User Scheme Allows unlimited use of your Bridge Card. Monthly payments must be made by bankers standing order. Click here for details and an Application Form. |
£18 per month |
Click here for FAQ's.
B. Class 2 users (ie vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes mgw, up to 7.5 tonnes mgw)
A concessionary Toll of £1.50 is available to Class 2 users through the purchase of books of 20 prepaid tickets for £30 from the Toll Collector.
Regulation of Concessionary Tolls
Concessionary rates and discounts
are unregulated and the Company is under no obligation to offer concessionary
rates, discounts or free crossings to any users. However, the Company has given an
Undertaking that the concessionary Toll for
users of Bridge Cards will not exceed 20p before 1st January 2013,
and will not exceed 30p thereafter unless and until another Toll Application is
approved.
Free crossings for Disabled Drivers
The Company allows free crossings
for disabled drivers who are in possession of a valid Vehicle Tax Exemption
Certificate (Forms DLA404 or WPA442) for their own vehicle, or who use a vehicle
provided under the Motability scheme. To take advantage of this concession,
disabled drivers need to pre-register with the Company using the Disabled Driver
Registration Form which may be downloaded here
or obtained on request from the Toll Collectors.
Free crossings for Emergency Vehicles
The Company allows free crossings
for liveried fire appliances, police vehicles and ambulances. Any liveried
ambulance with "ambulance" signage will be allowed a free crossing,
including non-emergency ambulances.
Click here for FAQ's.