THE Welsh Government has confirmed it is looking to trunk the road between Pembroke Dock and Johnston, including the Cleddau Bridge, bringing the long-term future of the bridge tolls into doubt.

In a letter to Assembly Members sent today (Friday) Transport Minister Edwina Hart confirmed the intention to trunk the road from the next financial year.

Trunk roads in Wales are those that are deemed to have national importance and placed directly under the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

It follows a question raised by Plaid Assembly Member Simon Thomas on November 25 about the impact of the tolls on businesses based around the Haven.

In her letter, Mrs Hart said: “Our National Transport Finance Plan includes a commitment to progress proposals to potentially trunk the A477 between Pembroke Dock and Johnston from next financial year.

“This would include Cleddau Bridge.

“As part of the trunking process, the complex accounting arrangements under the Dyfed Act 1987 which govern the tolls would have to be examined in detail.

“Until that time Pembrokeshire County Council remains responsible for the bridge, including setting the level of the tolls.”

In direct response to Mr Thomas’ question, Mrs Hart said no assessment of the impact of the tolls on businesses had been carried out but, she added, “I will ask officials to look at this.”

The future of the tolls has been a major political battleground in recent months with both Mr Thomas and Labour’s south Pembrokeshire Assembly candidate Marc Tierney running campaigns to have the tolls removed.

Mr Thomas said: “Milford Haven enterprise zone is the only zone in Wales where you have to pay a toll to go from one part of the enterprise zone to another.

“My team held a successful meeting in Pembroke Dock to discuss the campaign to get rid of the toll on the Cleddau Bridge. Local businesses raised the effect of the tolls on their business with me. Following the meeting I highlighted the issue with the Welsh Government during Assembly questions.

"I was surprised to learn that the Welsh Government, which is proposing to take over the bridge, had made no assessment of the impact of the tolls on businesses and I urged the Minister to do so.

“I’m delighted that she has responded to my plea and officials will now assess the impact of the tolls on businesses. I urge firms and individuals to make their views known to the Welsh Government and to myself.”

Mr Tierney launched a petition at the County Show earlier this year calling on Pembrokeshire County Council to review the tolls with a view to ending the charge, which Mr Tierney said was a barrier to free movement across the Haven.

He added: “I was pleased to welcome Edwina Hart to Pembrokeshire recently.

“During her visit, I shared with her the responses I am receiving from local people and businesses who share my view that charging to cross the bridge is an unfair local tax.

“I am pleased that the Minister has listened to those views and is asking her officials to assess the impact of the charges on local business.

“The Haven waterway is an enterprise zone and every effort must be made by Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government to support the local economy.”