Higher bridge toll could 'force kids out of school'

Plans to increase the fees for a privately-owned toll bridge could force parents to pull their children out of school, a headteacher has said.

A public inquiry in March will determine future charges to cross the Grade II-listed Aldwark Bridge, on the River Ure near Easingwold.

The bridge's operator has proposed increasing the toll from 40p to £1, with a view to raising it over the next 10 years to £1.40 to keep it "commercially viable".

Nick Oswald, head of Great Ouseburn Primary School, said the change seemed "unreasonable" and could cost parents who need to cross the bridge to drop off and collect their children up to £800 a year.

He said: "People will have to leave a school where they're happy and successful, just because their parents can't afford to get them over 200m of bridge.

"It seems to unfairly disadvantage people on lower incomes. This is a rural area, so lots of parents do have to drive to school."

The toll bridge's owner, Alex Bell, has applied to raise the toll previously, but this was rejected by the Department for Transport in 2022.

The bridge, which spans the river between Youlton and Little Ouseburn, was closed last year for 10 months for a refurbishment costing around £700,000, during which time regular users had to take a 25-mile detour.

The proposed increased toll will allow for £50,000 to be put aside for future repair works, according to the operators.

Mr Bell, who bought the bridge four years ago, said the current proposed increase was related to the cost of the work, but added that it had not gone up in price for 20 years.

He said: "I'm applying for the toll increase within the confines of the law – the fees are now completely out of date for funding the operation."

The public inquiry into the fee hike will start on Tuesday 18 March at The Galtres Centre in Easingwold.

Aldwark, which dates back to the 18th Century, is the only remaining privately-owned toll bridge in Yorkshire and still has a tollkeeper who collects cash payments from a traditional booth.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.