Bridge tolls rise on hold

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Thursday, October 16, 2008
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This is Scunthorpe

HUMBER Bridge representatives are to request a meeting with Geoff Hoon to talk about the opposition to bridge tolls and review the debt repayment plan.

The board has agreed not to raise the tolls until April next year in the face of record-breaking opposition from the public - thanks to the Telegraph's A Toll Too Far campaign.

The Telegraph, along with its sister titles the Grimsby Telegraph and Hull Daily Mail, wants the tolls to be abolished or reduced to £1 per crossing.

Bridge board chairman David Gemmell said he hoped the DfT would be open to fresh discussion on the issues surrounding the bridge tolls.

He said: "I never expect anything. I would like to think we can get a deal where it is feasible to pay the debt.

"If they are minded to do something about reducing the debt then we would be delighted with that.

"I would like to think it is possible but it is not something they have ever been disposed to in the past."

The Department for Transport said it would not comment on the Bridge Board's views.

A spokesman said setting tolls was a matter for the bridge board and that a decision on whether to hold a public inquiry would be made by Mr Hoon in due course.

Alongside calls to block this planned rise in the Humber Bridge tolls, campaigners have also demanded the tolls be scrapped or reduced to £1.

For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.

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19 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Jade, Barton

    Friday, October 17 2008, 2:27PM

    “In reply to those who say who cares? and stop going on. Just you wait until you have to cross twice a day five times a week like a proportion of both banks do and you will soon be campaigning the same as us when a quarter of your pay packet goes on the tolls!”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by new order, scunny

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 10:20PM

    “dont start sucking each others **** just yet its just "a posponment " it will still go up”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by steve, scunthorpe

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 7:57PM

    “well done, good news. but it's not just down to the telegraph. i foind the paper's self-congratulatory tone condescending. it's thanks to the hard work of the people of north lincs and the surrounding area and not as the second sentence of this story suggests. don't forget your readers!”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by WTF, scunny

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 6:00PM

    “Apart from a small proportion of the local community, and for trade and business, I don't think that it will make much difference.

    Hull people won't exactly want to flock to Scunny or Grimsby to go shopping. Grimsby folk have got Freshney Place and Scunny folk have a motorway that leads straight to Meadowhall and Leeds.”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Jack, scunthorpe

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 5:47PM

    “Make bicycles pay...haha grandadpop, looks like you took one spoonful of cough medicine too many.

    What next, make them pay road tax? How about we charge the people who walk across the bridge while were at it. Wakey wakey old timer, get with the times!”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Geoff, Ashby

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 4:09PM

    “It's a pity that comments such as 'who cares' and 'don't keep banging on...etc have to be made. It needs the press to try and get things changed, we don't have any opposition to government otherwise. But it also a pity that however much we try to make this this government listen to people's wishes, it is ignored. The reply to the campaign is a cop out and a tactic which works often enough because of people's apathy. Good try ST anyway, keep it alive.”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Grandadpop, Scunthorpe

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 4:08PM

    “Well done SET, your campaign has helped to highlight the divisive nature of the toll charges. The bridge was constructed to UNITE us not FLEECE us!

    I don't think they can scrap the charges altogether. That would probably cost jobs but the charges could be reduced to £1 for cars, vans, motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles...yes, BICYCLES!
    And £2 for HGV's and PSV's.

    The usual exemptions should apply.”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by ad, nlincs

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 3:41PM

    “Perhaps the ET could lead the chorus of dsapproval over scrapping the model traffic area?
    Never trust an ET campaign I say”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by alan s, barton

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 1:06PM

    “in reply to steve,for someone who dosent care you seem to be infatuated by the story,,why dont you campaign for your world famous bottesford beck to have a single span bridge.alan s barton”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Jack, scunthorpe

    Thursday, October 16 2008, 12:58PM

    “Zzzzzzzz another day, another Humber bridge story.
    Next campaign...demolish Westcliffe”

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