DRIVERS can get their hands on Tamar Tags again after a shortage left motorists unable to access half-price tolls across the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry.

A new delivery of the electronic tags have now arrived, allowing Tamar Crossings to clear a backlog of applications and prepare to reopen its online service on October 26.

More than 200 applications have already been processed by the customer services team, with applicants either having received their tags or due to receive them shortly.

The shortage forced online applications to be suspended in early August following a surge in demand during consultation over the scheme’s administration fee.

Delays sourcing a key electronic component also affected supplies, leaving regular users facing waits for the tags that provide a 50 per cent discount on standard tolls.

The situation sparked concern among councillors, with Cllr Anne Freeman questioning how drivers could be helped while waiting for their tags and potentially paying the full toll.

At the last meeting of the Joint Committee of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry, chief officer Philip Robinson apologised to customers who had been left out of pocket.

He said the positive response to the administration fee consultation had triggered a rush of applications that exceeded expectations.

The possibility of allowing drivers to claim the discount using their vehicle registration numbers while waiting for a physical tag was also discussed. However, officers warned that creating a temporary system would require additional work and could cause further delays elsewhere in the tolling process.

Tamar Crossings is now working through the remaining email and postal applications in the order they were received, with online applications due to reopen once the backlog has been cleared.

The authority thanked customers for their patience while the temporary arrangements have been in place.

Anyone chasing an existing application can contact: [email protected].