Local Euro MP: "25th birthday of the Humber Bridge is an opportunity to scrap debt and reduce the tolls"

12.00.00am GMT Mon 26th Jan 2004

Local Euro MP, Diana Wallis, has said that the 25th birthday of the Humber Bridge is an opportunity to scrap the high tolls on the bridge.

The Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"In my opinion tolls create a barrier rather than a bridge.

"Not only do they create extra expense for family and friends visiting specialist care units in hospitals, but they do not allow communities on both sides of the estuary to take up employment and leisure opportunities which exist on the other side.

"In addition, the tolls depress the housing market in North Lincs and at the same raise the price of some commodities, for example petrol, and they create unnecessary HGV journeys in the sub-regions roads as hauliers would rather drive around than use the bridge.

"In my opinion if such bridge tolls were operating on a link between two member states of the European Union the tolls at this level would constitute a barrier to trade and therefore be illegal.

"I think (and this is the view of many others across the sub-region) that the Humber Bridge tolls should be reduced to 50p-£1 for cars and light vans and £2 for all HGVs in order to cover the annual running costs and the 4 sub-regional local authorities should take over the running of this from the Government. Of course it would mean scrapping the debt, but I think this is an appropriate opportunity to consider what function the bridge plays and where we go in the future."