Andrew Percy and Axholme Central Councillor Liz Redfern joined Councillors, patients and other campaigners at a protest against the Humber Bridge Tolls on Saturday September 1st. The protest was organised by campaign group Humber Action Against Tolls (HAAT) and took place at the Humber Bridge.
Andrew said, “I am delighted to support this campaign and pay tribute to the work of Humber Action Against Tolls group who have worked so hard to raise the profile of this campaign. The tolls on the Humber Bridge are a barrier to trade and operate as an additional tax on residents who work on the north bank. The whole of North Lincolnshire, including the Isle, is affected by these expensive tolls. The bridge cost £151 million to build and yet, due to interest charges, the debt presently stands at £350 million. This means that 80% of toll charges go straight to the Government to service the debt.
The tolls are particularly unfair to those patients who have to access healthcare on the north bank. With more and more services being centralised at just one hospital, the number of patients having to use the bridge to access vital healthcare is growing. It is outrageous that patients are having to pay £2.70 every time they cross the bridge to access NHS treatment.
The Humber Bridge debt is a complex problem and will not be easy to solve. That is why I supported the Humber Bridge Board’s idea of a 5 year toll holiday so that an assessment could be made to measure the economic impact of the tolls on the region. With all four of the Councils in the former Humberside region supporting this campaign I hope the Government will listen and act swiftly to end these unfair tolls.”
LibDem MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, Diana Wallis, also attended the event to show support.
The Humber Action Against Tolls group wesite can be found at www.humbertollaction.org.uk