Hundreds object to Humber Bridge toll rise

RECORD numbers of objections have been raised to proposed increases to the Humber Bridge tolls.

The Humber Bridge Board has received 238 official objections from organisations and individuals opposed to the rise – the largest number to date.

It follows the Mail's campaign, A Toll Too Far, which aims to get the tolls scrapped or reduced to £1.

So far, 1,200 readers have signed the petition, launched in partnership with our sister papers, the Scunthorpe Telegraph and the Grimsby Telegraph.

Humber Toll Action chairwoman, Jenny Walton, 64, said: "People are realising they cannot sit back and they have to react in order to get something done."

The increase would see single car journeys jump from £2.70 to £2.90, while large HGVs would pay £19.90, up from £18.30.

As a result of the objections to the board, the new Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon must now call a public inquiry into the increase.

The board, made up of the region's four councils around the Humber, said it is forced to increase tolls to keep up with repayments on the debt and has vowed to put pressure on the Government to find alternatives to a rise.

In a meeting next Wednesday, the board will vote on a recommendation that it seeks a meeting with Geoff Hoon on the matter.

Association of British Drivers spokesman Nigel Humphreys said: "Ever since the bridge tolls were scrapped in Scotland, we have started to hear a lot more objections from drivers in the Humber region.

"The fact it has been abolished there, but the Government won't do the same here, is really winding people up."