The Member of Parliament for Reading West, Martin Salter, will join with those demonstrating against yet another significant rise in the Pangbourne Toll Bridge charging fee on Thursday December 11^th at 8am. Tollfreeze, a group of local people keen on fighting the second hike in three years, have invited Mr Salter to join their fight to resist the proposed toll increase. In 2005, the toll rose from 10p to 20p and now it is proposed to double the charge to 40p next year.

Mr Salter said:-

“I will be meeting with those protesting against yet another excessive hike on Thursday morning in Whitchurch. The Pangbourne Toll Bridge is a crucial transport link between Reading and South Oxfordshire, and for the authorities to double the toll fee in the current financial situation is both irresponsible and greedy. Travel is already very expensive, especially in the South East, and to implement the second massive increase in the space of three years would be a tremendous blow to those people who rely on this bridge to go about their daily business. I am also meeting with a delegation from Tollfreeze over the next few days in order to put further pressure on those who feel that a 100% rise in the toll fee is justifiable in the current climate”.