Labour members in North Lincolnshire have welcomed new proposals to call on the Government to scrap the Humber Bridge tolls. Council leader Mark Kirk and local MP Ian Cawsey have backed plans to restart parliamentary debate on the issue.

The news comes as Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart revealed he has put forward a motion calling on the Government to examine the feasibility of scrapping the £333-million of remaining debts. Mr Stuart claims recent toll increases are unfair and the local economy is being affected by such high charges. Labour members locally have already joined forces with members of Humber Action Against Tolls (HAAT) and have put the case to Government ministers. A study on the economic impact of the tolls, joint funded by the four sub-region authorities, is set to begin later this year. The latest developments will be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting, which is due to be held on Wednesday evening.

It is not the first time local MPs have attempted to kick-start debate on the issue in the House of Commons. In 2006 Cleethorpes and Barton MP Shona McIsaac sponsored a Private Members Bill that gained cross party support. However, it ran out of time later that year.

Cllr Kirk has welcomed the latest move to restart debate on the issue in parliament. He said: "Reducing the Humber Bridge tolls should not be about political point scoring but about working together to achieve our aims. I am grateful for the support Mr Stuart is giving the campaign and I hope it will spark further parliamentary debate on such a vital issue. We will keep campaigning and hopefully the study, which we will be discussing at Cabinet, will give us further evidence."

Brigg and Goole MP Ian Cawsey added: "The Labour Government has already written off a substantial amount of debt on the Humber Bridge which spiralled out of control under the previous Tory administration. The economic study is vital to aid our business case and I am confident this work will show the tolls are a hindrance."