Humber toll iniquitous'
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BRITAIN'S leading motoring organisations have called for the removal of tolls on the Humber Bridge, saying that rural users already pay more than three times over for the road network.
The standing joint committee of the Royal Automobile Club, the Automobile Association, and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club said: "It is iniquitous that drivers — especially local residents — should be made to pay towards the construction and running costs of the bridge."
It added that tolled crossings, like the Humber Bridge, are integral parts of the British road system, and should be financed and maintained from public funds. They do not expect the toll charges (up to £7.50 for lorries) will help pay off many of the bridge debts.
"Inaccurate forecasting of demand, unforeseen maintenance costs, wrong financial assumptions, and unprecedented interest charges have combined to place operating authorities of similar tolled estuarial crossings in dire financial circumstances — some might say bankruptcy," it added.