Deadline for views on bridge tolls extended

A public inquiry will be held in March into the increases which would raise the cost of a return journey for a car to 6 and the largest HGV to 40.60.

Both North Lincolnshire Council, Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin and Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy had complained about the way the Humber Bridge Board had gone about notifying the public of their right to appeal.

The only publicity was through local newspaper public notices, which appeared one day last November, and the news was not even on the Humber Bridge Board's website

In a statement, the Board said yesterday it had complied with regulations. "The notice gave people six weeks to object. Neither the board, nor anyone else, has the legal power to extend the objection period.

"However the board has worked with the inspector for the inquiry and the Department of Transport to ensure that the public can have their say on these issues.

"The inspector has decided that he will consider late objections as long as they are received by January 31."

n Anyone wishing to make an objection should do so in writing to the Secretary of State for Transport, c/o Mr Neil Grant, Road Demand Management Division, Department for Transport, Zone 3/05, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR, and stating the grounds of objection.

A copy should be sent to the Humber Bridge Board, c/o Mrs. Sonia Belfield, Kingston upon Hull City Council, Legal Services, Guildhall, Hull, HU1 2AA.

If objectors wish to email their objections instead, they can do so, to [email protected] and [email protected]