Drivers’ say on plans to scrap the toll booths
MOTORISTS SHARE CONCERNS OVER PROPOSED NEW SYSTEM
HUMBER Bridge officials have this week announced it is the end of the road for toll booths as a new method of payment is to be rolled out.
Officials confirmed that plans are afoot to remove booths on the bridge ahead of a new system being installed which they hope will dramatically cut journey times and congestion.
Instead of stopping to pay the toll fee, motorists will be able to pay online, although they have promised that options will be available for those who do not have internet access.
Plans to go free flow are expected to drastically cut queues throughout the day, and the Humber Bridge Board says it will also have a positive impact on the environment.
Here is what you had to say:
What about those without the internet?
Denise Elliott said: “Some elderly people don’t have internet and cash is still as good as a bank card.”
Merryn Bolton said: “Not everyone is online, especially some old people, how do they pay?”
Becky Blackwood said: “We’ve done online for a while, it’s brilliant. But they never think about people who don’t have access to internet.”
Jeannette Foster said: “Whose brilliant idea was this? Not everyone has internet access or bank cards. It’s chaos already and it’s just going to get worse. Absolutely ridiculous.”
‘What a waste of money’
Philip Drury said: “Well that was a massive waste of money then building all those booths.”
Rich Hooley said: “What a joke. They’ve spent loads not too long ago changing it – a waste of money right there.”
Courtney Dickinson Seddon said: “It bugs me a little we pay bridge toll for repairs on the bridge or whatever but what actually gets done?”
‘It should be free’
Maxene Norris said: “A much better idea would be to do away with charges altogether after paying charges all these years, time to give something back to motorists.”
Graham Blanchard said: “Never mind new method of paying, should be blooming free. If it was down south it would be paid off years ago.
“It’s being paid for 11 times over. They know it’s a money-maker, all the traffic that used it since it was built, you can’t tell me interest is not paid as well.”
‘It is about time’
Adam Boone said: “Good idea. Fed up as a tag user getting held up by people trying to cut into the left-hand lane for tolls.”
Rob Shepherdson said: “Good. Took me about ten minutes to get through the tolls on Sunday morning. Much better option being able to pay online after your journey.”
Mark Jacobs said: “No issue for me, I tend to go straight through the tag lane when there’s any sort of queue and pay a few days later anyway.”
Jules Baxter said: “It needed to happen, replacing 12 booths with six wasn’t a good gamble especially now they only want card payments, too many people don’t get their card ready while on the queue or try two or three different cards trying to pay.
‘Another money-making scheme’
Kim Elizabeth Talbot said: “Yes, great if online works. Twice it hasn’t, then my hubbie forgot ... so he ended up with a big bill.”
Simon Winter said: “What about those who need to go to Humberside Airport for an holiday and forget and come back to a late payment or a fine?”
Craig Miller said: “Easy way for people to forget and therefore a way to penalise and profit from it. Cut down queues but having been hit by the admin fees before will end up being cheaper for me to drive around to Barton instead.”