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Politicians do so love to brandish a newspaper and wave it about shouting “fake news”, “inaccurate” and “untrue”.

Okay, to be fair, only some do that.

So, let’s recall the tale written a year ago when Plymouth Live reported how the Tamar Bridge toll was likely to go up . I wrote a headline of “How much would you have to pay?” and a sub-headline “The charge could be increased by 20 per cent”.

Key words here are “would” and “could”. Meaning that if things progress as they're meant to then it’s pretty likely your Tamar Bridge crossing will cost you more.

The article, on February 20, 2018, noted how “Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council are expected to meet to discuss Cornish councillors' plans to increase the charge to £1.80, from the current £1.50. Any proposed increase will have to be referred to central government before it is fully approved.”

Again - "plans", "proposed increase" and the need for central government approval. Clearly, no suggestion of a done deal.

The article added that: “The proposed toll increase is expected to take effect from July 2019.

(Image: Paul Slater)

“The proposal, discussed at a Cornwall Council meeting today - Tuesday, was carried with a majority of councillors voting in favour of considering the price hike.”

I know I'm going on a bit now, but that's "proposed", "proposal" and "considering the price hike". Which really doesn't sound like anyone screaming 'it's a done deal folks'.

While the official business plan, shown in council papers provided by Cornwall Council, suggested a price rise of 20 per cent being needed to “maintain the operations’ vital £2million reserves”, the final decision would be made by central government.

So far, so factually accurate. Discussions underway. Price hike proposed. Lots more meetings to be held. Decisions to be taken.

But please, remember this one thing though – the proposal was for the charge to go from £1.50 to £1.80.

Enter Plymouth City Council councillors, hollering ‘fake news’ - or a version of it.

On February 26, 2018 I reported on how on that very night councillors insisted that a 20 per cent price hike was ‘no done deal’.

They used a full meeting of Plymouth City Council to tell the public that nothing had been agreed.

Councillors rounded on Plymouth Live, claiming it was “not true and not accurate” that a 20 per cent increase was potentially on the way.

They then voted in favour of recommending the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee 2018/19 Revenue Estimates and Capital Programme, which said an increase may be needed.

During the meeting the then deputy leader, Conservative councillor Patrick Nicholson, brandished The Herald’s front page story on the proposed price increase. I'm not sure if he waved the page 6 story where all the details were made very clear.

He said: "While the business plan assumes a toll order increase in the next year the pure precise percentage is yet to be agreed. No decision has been made on the increase to the toll.”

Mr Nicholson said he was happy with a Labour amendment to call for "full consultation", reminding the council’s members that there would be public consultation and consultation with key partners and that the decision would eventually be down to the Secretary of State.

Funnily enough, just what Plymouth Live’s first article said. But clearly that was missed by the councillors. But back the meeting of February 26, 2018...

Cllr Mark Coker, who also sits on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee, said the Labour amendment was brought following Plymouth Live’s coverage of the Cornwall Council meeting where the committee’s budget papers were discussed, in particular the section which noted that to maintain reserves it was proposing a 20 per cent toll increase.

Mr Coker said it was “important” that the council was “very clear and transparent” adding that it was “unfortunate that the headlines [in The Herald] were somewhat inaccurate and it was assumed a decision to increase the tolls had already been taken".

“I can categorically say that that is not true and that is not accurate," he said.

(Image: File image)

So, Plymouth Live reported on how "proposals" were being discussed where there “would” or “could” be a price hike from £1.50 to £1.80, but ultimately the decision, following consultation, would be made by central government.

But we were inaccurate, according to your elected councillors of both colours.

And yes, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we were indeed inaccurate. I will hold my hands up to that. Except - and it's a key sticking point here - not the bit that we were accused of.

Because today, April 17, 2019, the Tamar Bridge & Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee has issued its press release, stating that it had“formally submitted an application to the Department of Transport to increase tolls on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint ferry for the first time in nine years".

About four paragraphs later it notes “Under the proposals, which were supported by both Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council” then there’s a bit of blah, blah, blah about the price of the Tamar Tag going from 75p to £1.00.

Oh wait, what’s this? No, no, say it isn’t so? A rise for cash payments? Well shivver me timbers, let’s have a look see…

The press release states: “The toll would rise from £1.50 to £2 for a cash crossing for a car, and other toll charges would see the same 33% increase”.

Hold it. Hold the flippin’ horses. What? A proposal - not for a rise from £1.50 to £1.80, but a proposal to go from £1.50 to £2.

(Image: Penny Cross)

The press statement adds that “following today’s publication of the proposal, anyone with a substantial interest may object to the proposal by writing to the Secretary of State for Transport within 42 days.”

So, to recap. Plymouth Live told its readers in February 2018 there were proposals – just proposals mind - to increase the Tamar toll from £1.50 to £1.80.

Plymouth City Councillors claimed that Plymouth Live’s reporting of this proposal was “not true and not accurate” and rounded on us for printing headlines that were “somewhat inaccurate” and that there was no percentage agreement.

A year later, the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee announced it is sending a missive to the government requesting… a price hike, from £1.50 to £2.

You may have missed the report in Plymouth Live, just before Christmas on December 17 where Cornwall Council's cabinet quietly discussed a report which proposed an increase of 33 percent, from £1.50 to £2 was needed.

While everyone else was panic-buying food and gifts, Plymouth Live noted how the cabinet highlighted inflation costs, growth in the capital programme and increased maintenance on the bridge and ferry.

I don't recall Plymouth City councillors shouting "not true and not accurate" about that report.

Maybe they were also out doing last minute Christmas shopping, munching on mince pies or quaffing eggnog.

So, if any councillors would like to pop along to the office, I’ll put the kettle on and you can retract your claim of, effectively, fake news. I won't even charge you £1.50, or £1.80, or even £2.

I may just suggest it though, y'know, as a proposal.