Local Euro MP's support for Humber Bridge Tolls protest

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 1st Sep 2007

Local Liberal Democrat Euro MP, Diana Wallis, gave her support at today's Humber Bridge Tolls protest by attending the demonstration at the southern end of the bridge.

The protest has been planned by the campaigning group Humber Action Against Tolls and the demonstration highlighted the problem of toll charges on the Humber Bridge.

Diana Wallis MEP, a Vice-President of the European Parliament said in advance of the demonstration:

"I support the aims of this campaign. In my opinion tolls on the Humber Bridge create a barrier rather than a bridge.Not only do they create extra expense for family and friends visiting specialist care units in hospitals, but they do not allow communities on both sides of the estuary to take up employment and leisure opportunities which exist on the other side.

"Also there are economic effects. The tolls depress the housing market in North Lincs and at the same time raise the price of some commodities, for example petrol, and they create unnecessary HGV journeys in the sub-regions roads as hauliers would rather drive around than use the bridge.

"In my opinion if such bridge tolls were operating on a link between two member states of the European Union the tolls at this level would constitute a barrier to trade and therefore be illegal."