Humber LEP welcomes dialogue on Humber Bridge toll

Sept. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- The LEP board heard presentations from both Hull-based chartered surveyor Malcolm Scott and the current Humber Bridge Board.

Mr Scott advocates purchase of the bridge from the Government and an eventual toll reduction to £1, while the current Humber Bridge Board has said it too proposed purchase of the bridge and a reduction in the current average toll for a car from £2.70 (£3 from October, making it the most expensive car toll in the country) to £2.50 from April 2012, and to £1.50 by 2020, with the cost for lorries reducing to £12.50.

A report commissioned in 2008 by the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Council authorities has already identified that abolishing tolls on the bridge would boost the region's economy by £1bn over 25 years.

John Clugson, interim Chair of the Humber LEP Board said:

“Humber LEP welcomes the debate on the two proposals for a toll reduction for the Humber Bridge.

“At a time of economic instability, when Hull and the Humber is trying to attract industry and commerce to the region, it is important that an economic factor such as a bridge toll does not detract from the other advantages of locating in the region.

“We hope to discuss the proposals in more detail when we meet with HM Treasury next month.”

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The Humber LEP is a partnership of 16 local businesses, Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, Humber Chemical Focus, the four Humber councils and the University of Hull. The intensity of the excellent support pledged from the private sector - gathered in less than a week after the LEP’s first Board meeting in June - is thought to be amongst the highest in the country.

Humber LEP successfully bid for one of the largest Enterprise Zones in the country, which will create around 5,000 jobs. It has also won £177,000 of Government funding towards activities after local organisations pledged to contribute £57,500 of their own funds.

One of the LEP’s major pieces of work will be on how to market the Humber as a location for business. This will include developing the “Humber offer” for renewables, aiming to attract more top tier manufacturing companies in the renewable energy sector to invest, as well as helping local companies do more business outside the area and overseas.