'£1bn benefit if Humber Bridge tolls axed'
Scrapping the Humber Bridge tolls would benefit the local economy by £1bn, a new report has revealed.
The Humber Bridge Tolls Study, which has been seen by the Mail, claims the total benefit of abolishing the tolls would amount to £39m in 2009 and £1.1bn over the next 25 years.
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The report said the tolls affect shopping trips by people on the south bank
It claims Hull could net a further £45m a year in retail opportunities, meaning that an end to the tolls could benefit the city to the tune of £84m a year.
The report, which has been commissioned by the four unitary authorities bordering the bridge, including Hull and the East Riding, was being officially launched at the House of Commons today.
However, the Mail received a leaked copy of the report, which catalogues a raft of benefits that could be brought to the region by abolishing, or reducing the tolls to £1 per crossing for cars.
The news comes after the Mail revealed businesses in the region spend more than £1m a year on bridge tolls.
"Abolition or a marked reduction in the toll will lead to a clear economic benefit to the city region over the next 25 years," said the report.
"It will improve the region's productivity, lead to greater employment opportunities for the region's residents, better networking between businesses and increase local competition."
The report was being launched at the Commons by Brigg and Goole MP Ian Cawsey.
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by Geoff, Wawne
Wednesday, October 08 2008, 11:45AM
“Why not do the logical thing and abolish the tolls for cars heading southbound (don't want to encourage the south bank mob to stay) and double the toll for the kipperfaces coming over from the south bank?
That way we do not have to pay for the trauma of going to Grimbo or Scunny but they have to pay for the privilege of coming over to civilisation once in a while!”
by john starkey, leconfield
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 8:14PM
“Why do we pay Bridge tolls when we pay road tax etc? In London they have no tolls for their bridges !We will never see a free bridge crossing”
by Graham C. Marshall, Hessle
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 7:21PM
“Casting my mind back to the hard fought 1966 North Hull by-election, I remember Barbara Castle strategically announcing that Hull would get its bridge. Kevin McNamara won.”
by John, East Riding
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 3:50PM
“To Pete of Hull, actually my misinformed friend, Gordon Brown was the instigator of scrapping the tolls in Scotland, the first toll to be scrapped was at the insistance of Gordon Brown when he was the Chancellor and not the PM, he was in consultation with the assembley regarding these matters for 3 years under Tony Blairs rule.”
by mally, the muppet
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 3:39PM
“Mally, Hull you sound like the usual work shy sponger using asylum seakers and foriegn workers as an excuse not to get a job you parasite.”