FOLLOWING THE FREEZE IN HUMBER BRIDGE TOLLS in December, Transport Minister Sadiq Khan will be visiting the bridge in March along with local MP Shona McIsaac. The visit will be part of an ongoing appraisal and will be used to study the regional economic and financial impacts of a change in tolls on the Humber Bridge.

Shona has campaigned against the Humber Bridge Tolls for years now and was extremely pleased in November when the Department for Transport announced £6 million of public funding to freeze the tolls for the next eighteen months. However, she is still fighting to get the tolls reduced.

Since November, an appraisal has been on-going and it is hoped to be finished by the end of this month. The Department are looking at different transport models in different areas and seeing if they can find one that will fit the Humber Bridge. The results will give a much clearer picture of the future of the bridge tolls.

On his visit, Sadiq Khan will meet Shona along with other local MPs and local authorities. He hopes that seeing the bridge first hand will give a much clearer picture of the issues affecting it.

Of the visit, Shona said:

"I am extremely pleased to see continued support from the Government in the fight against Humber Bridge tolls. Sadiq's visit is another sign that the Government are taking this issue very seriously and want to do what's best for local residents, businesses and anyone who uses the bridge.

I will continue to campaign on the issue on behalf of all of my constituents and hope to see a much clearer picture of the future of the Humber Bridge in the next couple of months."

10 February 2010