LIB DEMS WELCOME TORIES TO SEVERN BRIDGE CAMPAIGN

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Apr 2008

Commenting on today's press release from the Welsh Conservatives calling for the Government to allow users of the Severn Bridge to pay by card rather than cash, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, who tabled an Early Day Motion on the subject in November last year, said:

"I'm delighted that the Welsh Tories have decided to support this campaign. It's just a shame that none of them has signed up to my motion in Parliament calling for exactly these changes.

"My motion, which has been open for MPs to sign for 6 months, calls on the Government to scrap the outdated and hugely inconvenient cash only system at the Severn Bridge toll, to enable motorists to pay by card.

"Unfortunately, not a single Welsh Conservative MP has added their name to the motion yet. What's more, the Lib Dems are running a Facebook campaign group on the same issue, which now has over 800 supporters.

"The Welsh Lib Dems will be delighted to support this amendment to the Local Transport Bill. I hope that Cheryl Gillan and her colleagues will in turn agree to sign up to the Facebook group and the Parliamentary motion."

Jenny's Early Day Motion, including a list of signatories, can be found at: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34229&SESSION=891

It currently has the support of 46 Members of Parliament.

The Facebook group is entitled "Severn Bridge Tolls: Ditch Cash Only". It currently has 854 members and can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5994864134