09 February 2012 09:23

Local News

Humber Bridge tolls to be halved

North East Lincolnshire Council has backed a deal to half the Humber bridge tolls

At a special full council meeting, the vote was passed to ratify the agreement reached last week, which will see the authority take on 25% of the bridge’s outstanding £182 million debt.

Originally, council leader Mr Shaw had argued that the debt should be split among the four Humber counties by population, which would have left NE Lincs with an 18% share of the debt. However the Government had threatened to withdraw their offer to write off £150 million of the original £332 million debt, unless the four Humber constituencies split the costs equally.

Ms Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Transport assured the council that the risk to council tax payers was less than originally feared, and that south bank residents who needed to make use of the north bank hospitals, would be able to cross for free.

Join our Newsletter

Come & join us on...