Cancer patient backs tolls campaign
A CANCER patient who has to cross the Humber Bridge for treatment is giving her support to the Scunthorpe Telegraph's campaign to reduce Humber Bridge tolls.
Margaret Ashton, of Scunthorpe, is backing the A Toll Too Far campaign, run by the Scunthorpe Telegraph along with its sister titles on the north and south banks.
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TOLLS BATTLE: The Humber Bridge
She said: "I am 100 per cent behind the campaign. I am fighting for hospital patients who cannot afford.
"The treatment for cancer is a long process and it costs a lot of money, petrol and time.
"And some of the hospitals charge a lot of money for parking, which is very expensive."
Mrs Ashton, who is a pensioner, was diagnosed in October last year, with aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer which attacked her nose and throat.
For the past few weeks, she has had to fork out £5.40 a day to cross the Humber Bridge, to receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull.
The Humber Bridge Board want to increase tolls from £2.70 to £2.90 each way for cars and from £18.30 to £19.90 each for the heaviest lorries.
A public inquiry was carried out earlier this month, forced by the A Toll Too Far campaign which has so far been backed by more than 10,000 people have signed a petition.
For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.
8 Comments
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by rob, Winterton
Sunday, March 15 2009, 4:49PM
“Because Edna. Crime pays. It always has.”
by Edna, Scunthorpe
Sunday, March 15 2009, 12:14AM
“Why should people needing cancer treatment have to pay to cross the bridge, whilst the visitors of jailbirds get free passes?”
by Ben, dont know why
Saturday, March 14 2009, 11:08PM
“It dont make sense. We send patients to Hull for better cancer treatment and we send patients to Grimsby for better Cervical cancer tests. Why do we even bother to have a Scunthorpe Hospital at all.”
by Margaret, Barrow
Saturday, March 14 2009, 1:06PM
“"In total agreement, scunthorpe". This has been my argument all along - we are definitely being discriminated against. My husband had major cancer surgery at Castle Hill last year and the cost of his stay there was prohibitive. It is great that we have the new Oncology department so near but at what cost to people from the South bank. "Centres of Excellence" are fine - if you live on the doorstep!”
by Old Pete, Scunthorpe
Saturday, March 14 2009, 11:54AM
“Regardless of the "remove or reduce" campaign (which I support wholly), the Health Authority should issue travel passes (including the bridge) to everyone who has to travel to a hospital on the north bank. I only have to make occasional visits to Castle Hill, but it is an expense (and inconvenience) that I can do without. It's a pity that the treatment given at Castle Hill, where the majority of patients seem to have to go, can't be given at the Infirmary, with a Scunthorpe to Hull bus stop right outside.”