"Gavin and Stacey" back Mike German's Campaign

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Apr 2008

Award winning TV Comedy show "Gavin and Stacey" has backed Welsh Liberal Democrat calls for debit and credit card payment at the Severn Toll Bridges.

In episode 5 of the second series, shown on Sunday 6 April, title character Gavin, played by Mathew Horne bemoans having to pay the £5.10 toll fee (the fee at time of filming last year) to enter Wales in cash. Whilst the character Pam, Gavin's mother, played by Alison Steadman asks: "Don't they take card? Everyone takes card"

Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and AM for South Wales EAST, Michael German, commented: "Gavin and Stacey may be a comedy, but it highlights a very serious issue, one that hits the people of Wales hard.

"The toll charges on the Severn Bridge are getting so high, that they can no longer be routinely settled with pocket change.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called for changes to the Severn Bridges Act to allow road users to pay by credit or debit card.

"The rest of the UK is laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. It's time for the government to play its cards right, and allow people to pay the modern way for coming in to Wales."

Notes:

The programme can be seen at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009s6mj