Landmark needs ‘world class’ centre

A masterplan with a range of options to develop the area, including an adventure wood, landscape gateway, housing and office employment, as well as a centre, was presented to the Cabinet of East Riding Council, which owns the Humber Bridge Country Park, earlier this year.

Hessle ward councillor Paul Hogan said the bridge needs a world-class visitors centre – like one opened at the Golden Gate Bridge – which will increase traffic flow.

Although tolls were cut to £1.50 earlier this year following a Government writedown of £150m debt, there are fears traffic will not increase enough to pay for the shortfall in income.

Coun Hogan said: “The Humber Bridge Board has a commercial necessity to do something – if it doesn’t do something it will be £1.5m that has to be found somewhere.”

The council’s director of planning and economic regeneration Alan Menzies said the portable building which serves as the tourism information centre at the bridge needed improvements.

But he added: “I think we would find it very difficult for that type of funding for that type of facility in the current climate, but working with external funders and the Bridge Board there would be possibilities.”