Citation, commencement and period in force

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the M4 and M48 Motorways (Severn Bridges Charging Scheme) Order 2017.

(2) It comes into force on 8th January 2018 and remains in force indefinitely.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order-

(a)"the scheme roads" means the roads in England carried by the bridges;

(b)the following have the same meaning as in the Severn Bridges Act 1992(3)-

"the bridges";

"the new bridge";

"the toll plaza areas";

"the new toll plaza area".

Designation of the scheme roads

3.  The roads in respect of which charges are imposed under this Order are the scheme roads.

Imposition of charges

4.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), from 8th January 2018 a charge is imposed in respect of any motor vehicle which is-

(a)of a class specified in column 1 of Schedule 1; and

(b)travelling from east to west on a scheme road.

(2) No charge is imposed in respect of the motor vehicles described in Schedule 2.

(3) The charge imposed for a given class of motor vehicle is determined by reference to column 2 of Schedule 1.

(4) Reference to a class of a motor vehicle in column 1 of Schedule 1 is to the class determined by reference to regulation 2 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Road User Charging and Workplace Parking Levy (Classes of Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2001(4).

Advance payments

5.-(1) The Secretary of State may enter into agreements under which, on such terms as may be provided, persons make payments in advance with respect to charges for the use of a motor vehicle on the scheme roads.

(2) Agreements may relate to use on an agreed number of occasions or during an agreed period, and may provide for a reduction in the charges specified in Schedule 1.

(3) Agreements must be offered on the same terms to all persons seeking to enter into an agreement.

Article 4

SCHEDULE 1CLASSES OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND CHARGES

Article 4(2)

SCHEDULE 2DECRIPTIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES NOT SUBJECT TO CHARGE

1.  A vehicle being used in the discharge of the function of a fire and rescue authority(5).

2.  A vehicle being used for police purposes.

3.  A vehicle which is exempt from vehicle excise duty under any of the following provisions of Schedule 2 to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994(6)-

(a)paragraph 6 (ambulances);

(b)paragraph 19(7) (vehicles for use by or for purposes of certain disabled people); or

(c)paragraph 20(8) (vehicles used for carriage of disabled people by recognised bodies).

4.  A vehicle being driven by a disabled person, or being used for the carriage of one or more disabled persons, which displays a current disabled person's badge issued under-

(a)section 21 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970(9), or

(b)section 14 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978(10).

5.  A vehicle being used in connection with-

(a)the collection of charges; or

(b)the inspection, maintenance, improvement or renewal of, or other dealing with, either of the bridges or toll plaza areas or any of the highways carried by the bridges, within the toll plaza areas or connecting the new toll plaza area and the new bridge (or any structure, works or apparatus on, under or over any of those highways).

6.  A vehicle which, having broken down on either of the bridges while travelling in one direction, is travelling in the opposite direction otherwise than under its own power.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

Part III of the Transport Act 2000 ("the 2000 Act") authorises the Secretary of State to make a trunk road charging scheme in respect of roads for which the Secretary of State is the traffic authority, and which are carried by a bridge, or pass through a tunnel, of at least 600 metres in length.

This Order establishes a charging scheme in respect of the roads carried by the Severn Bridges. Article 3 designates the roads in England which are carried by the bridges as the roads in respect of which charges are imposed under the Order ("the scheme roads").

Article 4 imposes a charge on vehicles travelling from east to west on a scheme road. The classes of motor vehicles in respect of which charges are imposed and the charge amounts are specified in Schedule 1. The vehicle classes are determined by reference to the Road User Charging and Workplace Levy (Classes of Motor Vehicles) (England) (Regulations) 2001 (S.I. 2001/2793). The classes of motor vehicles exempt from paying the charges are specified in Schedule 2.

Article 5 provides for advance payments in respect of charges for use of the scheme roads. Such agreements may provide for reduced charges.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.