Tolls: 'A brake on success of our economy'

BUSINESSES in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire pay on average more than £500 per month to cross the Humber Bridge, according to research.

But the study, carried out by Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, found some local firms pay as much as £15,000 in tolls per month.

The research, which included information from more than 200 of the region's companies, was carried out to assess how the tolls affect the Humber's economy.

It revealed collectively the companies that took part spent an annual sum of £1.24m on cross the Humber Bridge.

The research is part of a wider study by transport consultancy Colin Buchanan and Partners and national statistics firm Experian, which is being funded by the four Humber unitary authorities.

It will be used to lobby Government on reducing the bridge's £330m debt and, as a result, reducing or abolishing the tolls.

The chamber's findings, released today, show firms in Hull and the East Riding lose on average 110 man-hours and travel an extra 4,771 miles per year to avoid paying the tolls.

Almost 90 per cent of firms in the region that took part in the survey said the tolls impacted on business and 21 per cent reported they had a "big impact".

The sector most affected by the charges, which are due to go up this month, is transport and distribution, of which 43 per cent of companies said the tolls had a big impact.

Thirty three per cent of companies in the service sector also said they had a "big impact" on business, along with 28 per cent of those in wholesale and retail.

The study also revealed almost half of all companies that took part felt the tolls made it more difficult for them to attract new business and staff.

Responding to the findings Carol Thomsett, president of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said it was clear the Humber Bridge had failed in its original purpose of uniting the two banks because of the high cost of the tolls.

Mrs Thomsett said: "Directly or indirectly, they affect most businesses in the region by increasing their costs, making it harder for them to compete for business and making it more difficult for them to recruit staff.

"The tolls are a brake on the success of our local economy. The case for them to be reviewed is strong and we are looking forward to making that case to Government."

Recently, leaders from the four Humber unitary authorities wrote to Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly to ask her not to approve this month's proposed toll increase while the economic study was ongoing.

East Riding Council leader Councillor Stephen Parnaby, who drafted the letter, said: "We came to the view it would be wrong of the Transport Secretary to approve another increase when, in the next few weeks, we'll have research showing just how much damage the tolls have on both banks of the Humber."