The Cleddau Bridge tolls should remain as they are, a committee of councillors has recommended.

It followed a heated debate on Wednesday as members of the economy overview and scrutiny committee gathered for an Extraordinary Meeting.

The committee were tasked with discussing which one of four options regarding the tolls should be recommended for full council next month.

The four options were:

  • maintaining the current toll level
  • abolishing the toll from April 1
  • raising the toll from April 1
  • lowering the toll from April 1.

Councillor Jonathan Nutting argued that a fifth option regarding the trunking of the road should be on the table.

However the chairman of the economy overview and scrutiny,  Cllr Michael John, responded by saying that the four options presented were to 'get the house in order' after discrepancies in the finances of the bridge.

Depending on the calculation, hugely varying levels of surplus or deficit can be calculated for the financial position.

They ranged from a £64.9 million deficit, a £11.2million surplus or a £19.5million surplus.

Head of Finance Jon Haswell stated that £11.2 million was the figure 'most prudent' and was therefore used in calculations.

A recommendation for full council was made to maintain the bridge tolls at the current price.