08 March 2011 07:56

Bridge tolls could increase further

Users of the Humber Bridge could be faced with an 11% rise taking the bridge toll for a passenger car from the current levele of £2.70 to £3.00.

Users of the Humber Bridge could be faced with an 11% rise taking the bridge toll for a passenger car from the current levele of £2.70 to £3.00.

However, according to a report compiled jointly by: Hull City Council, North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council , abolishing tolls would boost the region's economy by £1bn over the next 25 years.

As such, the Department for Transport and the treasury are to hold a three day inquiry to examine what effect the tolls and the proposed increase would have on the local economy.

Councillor David Gemmel, Chairman of the Humber Bridge Board, says: "We need the money to pay the debt back, we have a third of a billion pound of debt and a legal obligation to pay that back.” He continues: "We need to have the option of putting the increase up; if we get the approval to increase the tolls, we may not have to put it up, but we need to be in a position to increase it."

Jen Bolton, from Humber Action Against Tolls, says: "When we had the last public inquiry there was a debt and the figure was given. The figure is still exactly the same. They can put the toll up and what can it do? It can chip away at some of the extra debt, but it's not going clear it."

The three day inquiry is to be held at the Village hotel.

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