Toll barriers removed from bridge after hitting motorcyclist (From Daily Echo)
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Southampton's Itchen Bridge toll barriers removed after crashing down on vehicles
11:10am Thursday 17th January 2013 in News
By Luke Tugby, Senior reporter
DANGER REMOVED: Barriers have been taken away from the Itchen Bridge tolls.
IT was a controversial scheme designed to make life easier for thousands of motorists entering the city.
Coin toss bins, electronic smartcards and barriers controlled by sensors were all part of a council masterplan to reduce queues either side of Southampton’s Itchen Bridge.
But just months after being installed, transport chiefs have removed the new barriers after they crashed down on four vehicles – including a motorcyclist.
When the Daily Echo revealed details of the proposals back in December 2010, the council’s former Tory administration said that the automated system would “improve traffic flows and save money” to the tune of around £250,000 a year.
However, Labour leaders confirmed that the barriers have been taken away indefinitely while the situation is reviewed.
The decision has sparked fresh calls from Southampton motorists to scrap the automated toll system completely.
As previously reported by the Daily Echo, Derek Popplestone, 67, and his wife Jill face being charged £25 to cross the bridge in their motorhome, because the tariffs charged to motorists are now based on a vehicle’s height.
Derek said: “I can cross the Humber Bridge, the Dartford crossing and go into Wales for the same price as a car. Why? Because the booths are manned.
“If they can man booths there what’s wrong with keeping them manned on the Itchen Bridge? This was purely a cost-cutting measure from the council and it’s backfired in their face.”
David Mant, 66, of Woolston, Southampton, claimed the barriers “have the potential to kill someone”.
The part-time taxi driver said: “What if it came down, knocked a motorcyclist off his bike and they broke their neck? It’s an accident waiting to happen.
“I definitely want to see the barriers stay away before someone gets hurt.”
Another Woolston resident, Andrew Matthews, said: “I’m a motorcyclist myself and when I first went through the barriers I did think ‘That could cause some damage’. They really come down at some speed.
“I’m pleased to see them gone. I always thought they were a hazard.”
A spokesman for Southampton City Council said that no reports of injuries or compensation claims that had been lodged following the incidents.
The spokesman added: “During the introduction of the new automated toll collection system concerns had been expressed by drivers that the introduction of the barriers could be causing increased transaction times, resulting in slightly longer travel times at peak hours. To test this, the barriers have been removed.
“In parallel with this, there have been four occasions where, in exceptional circumstances, vehicles and barriers had come into contact, although without any resulting injuries.
“Once both of these situations have been reviewed a decision will be taken on the reinstatement of the barriers.”
Comments(35)
Taskforce 141
says...
12:10pm Thu 17 Jan 13
If its not broke - dont fix it!
Ginger_cyclist
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12:11pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Rockhopper
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12:39pm Thu 17 Jan 13
loadcee
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12:45pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Tone
says...
12:51pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
NetleyNed
says...
12:52pm Thu 17 Jan 13
wizard
says...
12:57pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Tone wrote:Like :-)
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
lavalady
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12:59pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Subject48
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1:08pm Thu 17 Jan 13
jonvon21
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1:09pm Thu 17 Jan 13
huckit P
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1:16pm Thu 17 Jan 13
As an aside - a lot of tankers have metal strip running their full length because they do not register on the sensors, so maybe the moral is not to buy a plastic car.
huckit P
says...
1:16pm Thu 17 Jan 13
As an aside - a lot of tankers have metal strip running their full length because they do not register on the sensors, so maybe the moral is not to buy a plastic car.
Nicole23
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1:22pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Karmas a ****, if you do mean things to people it comes back to haunt you.
saintinpattaya
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1:31pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Tone wrote:And your so rightous.
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
voiceinthecrowd
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1:37pm Thu 17 Jan 13
For pity sake
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1:40pm Thu 17 Jan 13
saintinpattaya wrote:Do you mean "you're so righteous"?
Tone wrote:And your so rightous.
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
Tone
says...
1:54pm Thu 17 Jan 13
saintinpattaya wrote:You mean "And you're so righteous." surely?
Tone wrote:And your so rightous.
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
Oh, wait, I see what you did there - clever - I fell right into your trap. I salute your ingenuity too, sir!
sophisticated
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2:08pm Thu 17 Jan 13
mr.southampton
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2:09pm Thu 17 Jan 13
sass
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2:10pm Thu 17 Jan 13
The fare is not fair.
madge731933
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2:24pm Thu 17 Jan 13
owen_thesaints
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2:26pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Also the text on the display which tells you the toll and how much is being deducted is difficult to read.
bazzeroz
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3:43pm Thu 17 Jan 13
wizard
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4:33pm Thu 17 Jan 13
voiceinthecrowd wrote:Whats road tax?
I for one dont use the bridge as a matter of principal I have already bought the thing in rates, taxes road tax fuel tax and just do not use trades the wrong side of it
SaintM
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5:28pm Thu 17 Jan 13
mickey01
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6:01pm Thu 17 Jan 13
SaintM wrote:god knows what it will be like when the new residences of woolston start using it
It does not take the new style 10p coin, and takes 3 times longer to get through toll than in the past.It willnot get better unless people stop using it and then what is the point of an empty road.
what a shambles this council is
Ginger_cyclist
says...
6:27pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Tone wrote:Haha, some people here really do make me laugh but on a seriuos note, I do also hope the motorcyclist wasn't hurt.
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
Ginger_cyclist
says...
6:32pm Thu 17 Jan 13
wizard wrote:It's this mystical, non-existent tax that some motorists think they pay when in fact it's VED which has nothing to do with the roads or road usage.
voiceinthecrowd wrote:Whats road tax?
I for one dont use the bridge as a matter of principal I have already bought the thing in rates, taxes road tax fuel tax and just do not use trades the wrong side of it
Brusher Mills
says...
8:44pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Tone wrote:Brilliant
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
lisa whitemore
says...
11:07pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Nicole23 wrote:well said Nicole
They have come down a lot more than 4 times. I suppose this contract went to some foreign firm instead of keeping it local.
Karmas a ****, if you do mean things to people it comes back to haunt you.
grumpy and middle aged
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11:39pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Stupideditor
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9:05am Fri 18 Jan 13
Then on my return the line of traffic stretched all the way back to Ocean Village, something i've not seen with attendants running the booths.
This new system is a typical council failure and purely a cost cutting measure to make redundancies and justification for Councillors to give themselves pay rises whilst others suffer.
In the future if I don't have the right change i'm more than happy to block a booth until an attendant gives me change.
saintsteves
says...
10:14am Fri 18 Jan 13
Tone wrote:If only the Ginger_cyclist put his efforts into stopping events from happening rather than filling the Echo website up with his boring rants and words of wisdom.
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
The world would be a better place ?
Always has something to say about everything !
Quality not Quantity Ginger_cyclist
Ginger_cyclist
says...
12:09pm Fri 18 Jan 13
saintsteves wrote:How about both quantity and quality?
Tone wrote:If only the Ginger_cyclist put his efforts into stopping events from happening rather than filling the Echo website up with his boring rants and words of wisdom.
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Well done sir, your mastery of predicting the future elevates you to the position of a god amongst lesser men. In the face of overwhelming malevolent bureaucracy from Southampton City Council many others would have crumbled, but not you! You stood, brave and strong behind your opinion, and now, now you reap the rewards you so rightly deserve!
So, it came down on a motorcyclist just as I predicted it would at some point, well done Council for proving me right.
I also hope the motorcyclist is OK, but that's a trifling detail, a mere fleeting shadow cast by your dazzling radiance of correctness.
The world would be a better place ?
Always has something to say about everything !
Quality not Quantity Ginger_cyclist
southy says...
11:40am Thu 17 Jan 13
no it would not because it will go though the motor insurance and dealing will be insurance to insurance cutting out the Council claims forms