Humber Bridge: Work to start on automated tolling system
Work is to start this month on a fully automated toll system at the Humber Bridge, officials have said.It will signal the end of toll booths after 44 years.Motorists will be required to pay via an app or the bridge's website, although there will be an option to use cash at designated payment points.Chief executive Andrew Arundel said: "By completely overhauling the payment process, crossing the bridge will be easier and payment will be much more convenient."
Work is expected to begin on 17 March and it is hoped that the system will be operational by the autumn.Motorists are being warned to expect some disruption during 10 weeks of work to build a new gantry.
However, most of the work will be carried out at night, bridge officials said.Mr Arundel added: "We're determined to ensure that while the works are ongoing, bridge users will not be inconvenienced."Whereas some traffic management measures will be in place throughout the duration of the works, these are likely to include narrowing the lanes rather than closing them, to ensure traffic can keep moving."Mr Arundel added: "Once it goes live, we feel bridge users will really appreciate the improvements it brings."Toll booth staff will be offered an opportunity to apply for new roles within the organisation, the officials said. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis helped me get £14k in council tax but I'm not happy
One of the consumer champion's fans shared a story on how he successfully challenged his council tax payment, only for there to be a sting in the tail Consumer champion Martin Lewis was heaped with praise online after his sage advice helped a man claim back more than £14,000 in excess council tax payments – yet the story took a bittersweet turn. One of his followers heeded the expert's advice and was over the moon to get tens of thousands of pounds back after discovering his property was placed in the wrong council tax band, only later to share there was a "sad" twist to the tale. Martin had initially uploaded a video on his X account encouraging the public to tune in to the latest instalment of his self-titled BBC Sounds podcast. In it, he complained about the council tax band system in England and Scotland. His message was paired with the caption: "Are you in one of 400,000 homes that are in the wrong council tax band? If so, you could be due £1,000s back!" He added: "It really is quite unbelievable that if you live in England and Scotland, the council tax band you are in today is still dictated by a stop-gap, drive-by valuation done back in 1991 that was only meant to last a couple of years. "And when I say drive-by, I'm literally talking a couple of estate agents in a car often, with a clipboard in second gear going, 'Band C, Band D, Band E' – and that is still in place today. So no surprise up to 400,000 homes are in the wrong band. If you're in the wrong band and if you challenge it, not only can you get it lowered, you can get a backdated payout back to when you moved in or 1993, whichever was sooner." The expert, who also hosts The Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV, later told people not to dispute their council tax band without doing their research first, adding: "However, don't just do this speculatively because then you could get it wrong and they put your band up or even your neighbour's band up. You need to follow my full, step-by-step check and challenge process that I go through in detail in the podcast." Taking this advice on board, one fan, Rob Dean, sought about correcting the council tax band for not only his mother's property but also that of his neighbours. He replied to Martin's video: "Did that for my mum following your guidance and got £6000+ back and then told the three neighbours who were also in the wrong band. Overall total was £14.5k. Only sad part is that we'd all overpaid the water rates too!" He made no suggestion that he had managed to claw back any of that money. Others also shared their experiences of challenging their council tax bands. One person said: "I've been waiting for a decision for more than six months," while another follower added: "Just checked mine as I've always thought it seemed too high – turns out I am in the right band, but right at the bottom of it!" A third person sought Martin's help, saying: "My sister challenged her band last October. VOA [Valuation Office Agency] said it can take up to a year before they decide!! Is this right??" Challenging your council tax band Martin's Money Saving Expert website offers a comprehensive guide on how to contest your council tax band, detailing the steps homeowners can take to secure a refund if they believe they've been incorrectly categorised. For an in-depth look at the procedure, click here. But in brief, he proposed two approaches for those looking to challenge their council tax band. The first step is to compare your band with that of neighbours in similar or identical properties, with resources available on his website for residents in England and Scotland to facilitate this comparison. The second step involves a valuation check, where individuals can use the Money Saving Expert site to estimate the value of their property back in 1991, which was when the current bands were established, despite the tax being introduced in 1993. Martin pointed out that anyone who purchased their home after 1991 can "use its price and date of sale" as a basis for valuation. However, he warned: "This can't be used as evidence if you challenge your band. But it enables you to check out various property prices on your street and is an important test that you're on the right track." If both criteria are met, Martin said that you can then present a challenge to the VOA, either formally or informally, recommending the formal route although acknowledging it's "available to fewer people". Those eligible to lodge a formal challenge must have "lived in the property for six months or less (it doesn't matter whether you own or rent, though if renting you should notify the landlord as a courtesy)". For individuals who can't make a formal challenge, Martin suggested: "Over the years we've heard feedback from people who've been told they can't challenge as they've lived in their property too long – yet the VOA has a statutory duty to uphold the integrity of Council Tax bands list. "This means you can still submit a request for an 'informal review' of your Council Tax band, though the burden is on you to provide compelling evidence that your band is wrong, to persuade the VOA to do the review."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis explains new ISA rule change for anyone with more than one account
Martin Lewis has explained how a change in the rules now means savers can take out several different cash ISAs or stocks and shares ISAs within the same tax year Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has offered crucial guidance for individuals with more than one Cash ISA, in light of a recent change in government regulations. On the latest episode of The Martin Lewis podcast, the founder of MSE clarified to his listeners and co-host Adrian Chiles how Cash ISA rules now operate following a fiscal rule alteration in 2024. Previously, a long-standing rule restricted people to only one Cash ISA or Stocks and Shares ISA per year, but this has now been scrapped. This means savers can now utilise several different Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs, including fixed-rate and easy access, all within the same tax year. During the July 5 episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast on BBC Sounds and Spotify, Martin Lewis explained: "Ever since ISAs were set up, there's been a limit on the amount of money you can have in, and you've been able to open a Cash ISA and a Stocks and Shares ISA in the same year. "But you've only been able to open one of each type. But, from April 6 2024, the rules were changed, and the restriction on subscribing to one ISA of each type, in a year, was removed. "You may now open as many different ISAs of one type, for example a Cash ISA, you can have a fix, and you can have two different Cash ISAs, all of which you've opened and put money into, within one tax year." There are whispers that changes to Cash ISAs could be imminent, after the government declined to dismiss a potential reduction to the limits in the future, reports the Express. Currently, savers can stash up to £20,000 into Cash ISAs within a single tax year, across various accounts. However, there's buzz that the government might slash this limit to as little as £4,000, potentially from 2026. This move could, insiders claim, nudge more Brits towards investing rather than hoarding cash in ISAs, with stocks and shares ISAs reportedly not facing the same cuts. Earlier in the year, money guru Martin weighed in on the potential changes, remarking: "The concept behind it is that it'd encourage people to put the money in shares ISAs instead (personally, I'm sceptical if it'd work - many will just keep saving but pay more tax). "Of course, everything is pure supposition - I doubt any firm decision has been made yet. But if it happens as rumoured, it WOULDN'T impact money already in cash ISAs, it'd just cut what you can put in, in future. "Whether it'd start immediately, or in January or April 2026, no one knows (including at this point, I suspect, Rachel Reeves). Yet if you plan to save in a cash ISA, all of this would suggest getting it in sooner would seem safer."
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Men jailed after crack cocaine worth £30k seized in Northants
A man has been jailed for 14 years after £30k worth of class A drugs were seized at a storage facility and a pub than 80 wraps of crack cocaine which Karl Williams, 29, intended to sell in the Corby area of Northamptonshire were found in a rented Maciness, 32, who was used by Williams as a drugs runner, was sent to prison for four Police said the sentences "reflect the gravity of their offending". The activities of Williams, of no fixed address, were investigated as part of Operation Firebrand, which focused on the organised supply of class A drugs in Insp Carrie Powers, from Northamptonshire Police's serious and organised crime team, said: "The investigation identified that Williams was involved in the supply of cocaine, using the aliases and identities of other people to rent accommodation and to transfer money earned from his crimes."It was obvious Williams was living beyond his means and this was as a result of the significant amount of drugs he was supplying." Four police operations led to "significant" seizures of cocaine, cash and high-value was arrested three times throughout the took place in several places, including a storage facility in April 2023 and a pub outbuilding in November A drugs worth up to £30,365 were recovered. Williams and Maciness were both charged with being involved in the supply of Class A drugs and Williams was also accused of offences under the Proceeds of Crime pleaded guilty to all the charges and Williams was sentenced to 14 years in jail at Northampton Crown Court on 30 also of no fixed address, received a four-year Insp Powers added: "Everyone involved in this investigation has shown complete dedication and professionalism in securing the convictions of these two men and I am glad that the sentences given reflect the gravity of their offending." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
