AFTER reading your story (Daily Echo, January 30), and months of frustration, I felt it was time to write to you to express how pathetic the new toll collecting machines are on the Itchen Bridge.

Since their installation, a simple 20-minute trip to work from Hamble has been extended by ten, 15 or sometimes 20 minutes.

The council has stated that the removal of the barriers has quickened up the process, but how many times are we delayed due to machines not working properly?

I can only assume that the council has gone for the cheapest option with these machines, and as a result has caused delays for anyone who uses the bridge on a daily basis.

You only need to look at the traffic heading into town at 8am, backed up for a good mile or so along Portsmouth Road, or any time after 5pm on all of the roads leading to the Itchen Bridge.

Also, these machines only accept three coins, as we have all been advised, and they are 10p, 20p and 50p coins, and it doesn’t give change.

The council needs to seriously address the issue.

Once the toll booth collectors ‘disappear’ the traffic is only going to get worse. Why can’t these machines accept 5p?

I don’t care who is running the council, the cuts to public spending or selling the artwork. This council has come to power on the back of lie after lie.

Maybe it’s time they did something that may get the public believing they are representing us.

NAME & ADDRESS SUPPLIED.