Tolls on the Severn Bridge are to be cut by almost a fifth from 8 January, ahead of plans to abolish them altogether by the end of 2018.

Severn tolls will be cut 16% as the crossings return to public ownership.

The new pricing system will reduce tolls for cars from £6.70 to £5.60, which would cost drivers around £117.60 per month if they are using the bridge every working day. That’s almost identical to the current £117.92 monthly Severn Tag charge, which offers discounted, contactless crossings for regular users.

Minibuses and light commercial vehicles (including pickups) with a GVW up to 3.5 tonnes will pay £11.20, down from £13.40, while tolls for lorries and coaches will fall from £20 per crossing to £16.70.

Tolls will not be subject to the annual inflation increase, and a revised Tag price system will be put in place in the meantime, “in line with” the pay-per-use tolls. The consultation document had suggested this could be £52.80 per month for cars and LCVs, or £198 for HGVs and coaches. That’s a reduction from £235.84 for light commercials, and £396 for heavier vehicles.

The changes follow a consultation earlier this year and will come into effect as the bridges return to public ownership. Abolishing the tolls entirely at the end of 2018, would save Severn Tag car drivers over £1,400 per year, and is claimed to offer an annual boost to the South Wales economy of around £100m.

For more of the latest industry news click here.