05-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Who monitors the M48 Severn Bridge and ANPR cameras?
The M48 Severn Bridge Stakeholder steering group, launched at the end of June, appears to have been created by either the Department for Transport or National Highways. Currently, no public information about the group exists. This prompted Newport councillor Ray Mogford to remark, 'Seems I know as much as Google does,' when asked whether he was aware of the seemingly covert and unelected body.
Its remit includes controversial and arguably ineffective policies, such as the enforcement of Severn Bridge weight limits through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Until now, the absence of such cameras had raised questions. However, the group's internal slideshow confirmed that ANPR cameras are now operational - a detail which is also missing from online sources. According to the body's slideshow, ANPR cameras have been in place since the end of June.
Previous weight limit enforcement problems:
The steering group includes fourteen members:
Three officials from National Highways
Representatives from Welsh Government
Officers from Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire county councils
One regional government officer
A director from a UK government-funded transport advocacy group
Additional members from business organisations.
Despite internal claims about ANPR monitoring, it remains unclear whether the use of the Severn Bridge by HGVs is being actively tracked. A senior councillor recently stated that enforcement of weight limits, by ANPR cameras, falls to the back-office functions of Avon and Somerset Police, who oversee policing on the bridge. The South Wales has submitted freedom of information requests in respect to summonses, but the information is unlikely to be available, given how current the data is.
You can read the latest possible enforcement failures here:
The group's presentation outlines two sets of plans for restoring the bridge:
Short- to medium-term fixes, expected to continue until late 2026
Long-term solutions, beginning in 2027, broken down into: Measures: continuation of current maintenance efforts Interventions: structural reinforcements, particularly to the bridge's cables
When asked who was responsible for democratic oversight, National Highways responded:
'National Highways has set up a dedicated steering group to support, assist and advise on the future of the bridge, drawing on expertise from freight representatives and key authorities. We remain committed to finding a timely and effective solution that ensures the safety and longevity of this iconic structure. Regular briefings will be provided to MPs, local councils and stakeholders, and no payments are made to members of the group.'
Despite its connections with the UK Government and overlap with regional and local authorities, the steering group lacks elected officials and, to date, there is no clear mechanism for holding it to account, raising ongoing concerns about transparency and democratic oversight.
Bulwark and Thornwell councillor Sue Riley commented: 'I am aware of the steering group but have no clear idea who is on it beyond Paul Matthews, CEO, nor do I understand its remit. I cannot go so far as to call it a quango because I have no idea of its purpose or the agenda of those involved. It is certainly not democratic and is not, as far as I'm aware, engaging with residents or local members.'
Newport councillor Steve Cocks simply added 'I have no knowledge of it,' a view echoed by Newport Conservative councillor William Routley, who expressed concerns about unelected officials increasingly gaining power over democratic bodies.
