This week saw the new toll charges for the Severn Bridges for 2009. 

Despite calls from Michael German, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales East, the Labour government has pressed ahead with a five per cent increase in tolls.    

Michael German commented: "Labour has failed the people of South Wales.  I have written three times to the responsible UK government minister asking that the tolls be frozen as a means of stimulating the economy of South Wales. 

"The tolls are a tax on business and tourism.  If the UK government were serious about injecting support for our economy then they would be freezing the tolls.  Many businesses have told me that the increases will affect their ability to trade. 

"Now more than ever, we need more tourists to boost our economy.  We should do all we can to stop the negative vision of Wales as a country where you are taxed to come in.

"Freezing the tolls and paying the banks would have been the sensible thing to do.  Labour just doesn't get it.  They have let us down."