Marc Tierney, Labour’s Assembly Candidate for South Pembrokeshire, met with Edwina Hart in Pembroke Dock on Saturday to discuss jobs and improvements to the local economy.

The meeting follows a campaign by Marc Tierney calling for an end to the tolls charged by Pembrokeshire County Council for vehicles to cross the Cleddau Bridge.

The petition has attracted hundreds of signatures since it ‘went viral’ on social networks a couple of weeks ago, following a launch at the Pembrokeshire County Show earlier this summer.

In a wide-ranging discussion with Edwina Hart, who is also the Welsh Government Minister for Economy and Transport, Marc Tierney highlighted his concerns over the fragility of the economy, the effect of continued austerity in the public sector and the impact of the tax credit cuts as hundreds of families will find they have less money to spend locally.

“I was pleased to welcome Edwina Hart to Pembrokeshire and to discuss with her some of the issues affecting the economy in this constituency,” he said. “South Pembrokeshire in particular has had to deal with a couple of significant blows to the jobs market as the threat of closure hangs over staff at B&Q and the team at Friday Ad.

“One of the most important issues is the toll on the Cleddau Bridge.

“Local people are rightly concerned that for too long the council has kept us all in the dark about how much it has been making over and above the cost of maintenance.

“It’s pretty obvious from the comments I’m receiving that the toll impacts on jobs and where people choose to find new work. It has a disproportionate impact on the lowest paid and is stunting the growth of small business in particular.

“Town centres like Pembroke Dock could see further development and increased footfall if the bridge toll was reduced or scrapped altogether - the whole of the Haven waterway area could reap the benefit.”

Edwina Hart AM said: “The Cleddau Bridge toll is a real problem, especially for those who have no option but to cross on a regular basis.

“In the context of developing the Milford Haven waterway area, it is my priority to increase investment and secure jobs. Any decision over the toll rests with the local authority at present. Marc has highlighted that local people and businesses agree that the charge is hurting the economy. The local authority will, I am sure, listen to those views.

“The Red Roses by-pass has hugely improved the A477 and with my commitment to the bypass on the A40 at Llanddewi Velfrey, these road improvements against huge budget cuts will help to boost the economy and drive investment further west.”