Bridge toll cuts for local residents?
PEOPLE living near a tolled crossing in London are set to get a big cut in their tolls – and campaigners hope it could be introduced for the Humber Bridge.
People living either side of the Dartford crossing can take advantage of an offer cutting tolls by 80 per cent from November 15.
They need to pay £10 to register for the scheme and get an electronic tag for their car.
And the moves by the Government on the Dartford Crossing have been welcomed by Humberside campaigner Jenny Walton.
She said: "It is a wonderful gesture for the people in that area.
"If it was anything to do with the Government or the Department for Transport then maybe it means they will start looking sensibly at what we are calling for."
The Dartford Crossing is operated by the Highways Agency and tolls remain as a measure to fight congestion.
The crossing's debts were paid off in 2003.
For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.
4 Comments
by G.Etreal, Scunthorpe
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 4:29PM
“But Stu, the Dartford crossing pays for itself, the Humber Bridge doesn't.
Why would any Government right-off the debt on such an under-used and high future maintenence asset?
They'd be mad....
and...it'll never happen.”
by Stu, Scunny
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 3:48PM
“Dave, but maybe we pay all these tolls to keep the maintenance for the cable errosion but what about road taxes we pay!! I don't see why the highways agency can't take control of the bridge then run it like Dartford crossing... am sure they will make enough then to complete the maintenance....”
by dave, scunny
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 3:22PM
“the tolls are needed to pay for the maintenance. remember the humber bridge is a suspension bridge, and needs alot of maintenance, the forth bridge and the severn bridge are suffering cable corrosion at the minute, its only a matter of time before the humber bridge goes the same way, and then expensive procedures will need to be used to sort the problem. therefore we need the tolls to pay for the upkeep and the debt. i did support this campaign at the beggining, but the telegraph's continuous goings on about this bridge has made me look into it further and now i realise the tolls are needed.”
by G.Etreal, Scunthorpe
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 8:04AM
“Like it says in the article, the Dartford Crossing was fully paid off in 2003. Being a ¿paid for¿ bridge they be generous to local residents. This is not the case for the Humber Bridge ¿ which will never be paid for (the tolls not even covering the interest on the loans). All this talk of reducing the tolls for locals is just hot air. This is never going to happen.”