Chamber hails toll decision

HULL AND Humber Chamber of Commerce said today it has welcomed the Humber Bridge Board’s decision to delay the proposed increase in bridge tolls until April 2009.

Last month the Chamber wrote a letter to the Transport Secretary formally objecting to the tolls increasing and called for a public inquiry.

Earlier this month the Chamber said businesses were losing 110 man-hours a year because of the need to pay road tolls on the Humber Bridge.

More than 200 companies who responded to a survey the chamber said that they spend a combined total of £1.24m a year on tolls at the bridge.

Richard Kendall, policy executive at the Chamber, said: “The Bridge board has recognised that there is huge opposition from local businesses and residents to any increase in the Humber Bridge tolls and a local inquiry is inevitable. We welcome the Bboard’s decision to announce a delay until April 2009, which will give companies some much-needed certainty as they plan their spending in these difficult times.

“We will continue to work closely with the four Humber local authorities and our local MPs to find a long-term solution to the tolls. We are keen to engage with the Bridge board to find a way to drop this rise altogether rather than just delay it.”