Big changes could be coming at Eling toll bridge (Picture: Solent)
A historic toll bridge could soon cost £2 rather than £1 to cross, and those living nearby could be charged for the first time.
Eling bridge, just west of Southampton, is the only crossing linking the village of Eling to a church and scattering of houses on its edge.
If people living on the other side want to get to town without crossing the bridge, it would add around an extra ten minutes to their journey by car.
A proposal to increase the toll has met with controversy, but councillors insist it is the right thing to do in order to pay for maintenance and reduce traffic.
Residents currently have an exemption for the toll, but under the new plans would have to either pay it each time or purchase a £25 yearly pass.
Merrilyn Dracass, who has lived locally since 1979, said the proposals were ‘draconian’.
Eling Hill bridge near Southampton (Picture: Andrew Croft/Solent News)
She told the Daily Echo: ‘The proposal by the town council to solve this is to double the toll.
‘We only live 50 to 100 yards from the bridge, our neighbours even closer, so to suggest we should go the long way round to get to Totton if we don’t pay the toll is ridiculous.
‘We have had our free passes to cross the bridge for 40 years. I cannot see any good reason why they should be withdrawn.’
She said that people avoiding the bridge would lead to increased traffic on main roads which were already congested.
But David Harrison, Liberal Democrat councillor for Totton South, told the paper that maintaining the bridge was expensive and the toll increase would help fund it.
He said there had been no increase in 20 years, and insisted the move would in fact reduce traffic.
A decision is set to be made at a council meeting tomorrow.
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