Tory government would review toll
THE Tories will commission a Treasury review into whether to scrap the Humber Bridge tolls, the party has announced.
Speaking ahead of a visit to the bridge today, Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said the decision was a 'direct result' of the Scunthorpe Telegraph's A Toll Too Far campaign, which attracted more than 10,000 signatures calling for the charge to be cut to £1 or scrapped altogether.
Should David Cameron form a government after next year's election, she said: "We will commission a Treasury-led review of the Humber Bridge tolls and their economic impact."
Ms Villiers said last month her party could not commit to lowering or ending the toll due to the state of the public finances.
She said yesterday: "While it is true that the state of the public finances means there are no easy solutions here, we believe that it is vital to look at the whole issue in the round and carry out a thorough investigation of the facts.
"The review we propose will be an objective and thoughtful analysis of the relevant issues around the tolls.
"While the pressure on the public finances means we cannot make commitments at this stage on the long term future of the tolls, what we can promise is to look seriously and carefully at all the options with an open mind and give the communities affected by the issue a fair hearing."
A previously reported, transport minister Sadiq Khan this week announced the government intends to give £6m to the Humber Bridge Board to cover essential maintenance work and ensure tolls do not rise for at least a year-and-a-half.
For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.
4 Comments
by Sy Nichol, Sticksville
Thursday, October 29 2009, 12:59PM
“Carefully chosen words. "we cannot make commitments at this stage" And " what we can promise is to look seriously and carefully at all the options" In other words. Vote for us and we've commited to nothing! Don't you just love politicians and thier meaningless words??”
by Gordon Onad, Barton
Thursday, October 29 2009, 12:22PM
“How many times a week can you squeeze a story out of the Humber Bridge? Easily two a day.”
by me, here
Thursday, October 29 2009, 11:02AM
“so basically IF the torries get into power they will LOOK at the issue brilliant im voting for them now”
by Deano, 'Ull
Thursday, October 29 2009, 9:09AM
“Funny, whenever Labour, either council or govt, does this it's called a u-turn.
With the Tories it isn't.
And they wonder why people call it the Torygraph...”