Humber Bridge Toll

EDM number 781 in 2007-08, proposed by Graham Stuart on 24/01/2008.
Categorised under the topic of Roads.

That this House notes that the Humber Bridge was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world for 16 years; further notes that the original estimated cost of construction was £28 million, which grew to £98 million by completion; further notes that, thanks to interest charges, the Humber Bridge Board, which oversees the running of the bridge, saw its debt rise to £439 million; further notes that the Humber Bridge (Debits) Act 1996, passed by this House to reorganise the Board's debts in order to safeguard the bridge's future maintenance, reduced that debt and that the current debt is £333 million; further notes that in order to manage the debt, the Board charges a toll which, at £5.40 for a return car crossing, is the most expensive toll crossing in the country; further notes that local businesses regard this toll as a hindrance to the local economy because it discourages investment; further notes that Richard Kendall, policy executive at the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said recently that `the toll stops businesses on the north bank investing in the south bank and vice versa'; further notes that a petition calling on the Government to write off the debt itself has been signed by over 5,000 people; and calls on the Government to look into the feasibility of writing off the Bridge's debt at the earliest possible date.

This motion has been signed by a total of 2 MPs.