Motorway tolls to rise next month

DRIVERS are facing a hike in the cost of motorway tolls from the beginning of February - but the scale of the increase will not be made public until later this month.

The three main motorway operators - Vinci, Eiffage and Abertis - have decided this year to announce a nationwide increase across the network instead of each making separate decisions about pricing.

Motorway operators’ union Asfa said the rise was needed to invest in improvements. Full details are expected on January 27 and will come into force just days later, on February 1.

Motorists’ campaign group 40 Millions d’Automobilistes said it was wrong to raise the fees because they are supposed to be linked to consumer prices, which the group says have fallen over the past year.

It said the rise was being planned without any prior discussion with the committee of motorway users, which was set up last September to give drivers a voice.

The group is due to meet the motorway operators on Thursday, but it says that is too late to negotiate.

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