TODAY is the last day that residents can have their say on Southampton’s new budget proposals.

The plans includes an extra 20p charge, per crossing, of the Itchen Bridge. The move is part of the city council’s budget, which was unveiled in October.

But the main push back came from the toll increase proposals.

Currently it costs cars, and small vans, 50p to cross the bridge (60p at peak time), but the new charge will see this rise to 70p (80p) from April next year. This is expected to raise £510,000 a year for the city council.

The proposed new fee, which is the first rise of the toll in two decades, has been backed by council leader Christopher Hammond.

He said the additional cash will provide funding to maintain and upgrade the bridge – with the introduction of contactless card payments scheduled for the “near future”.

He added that the toll has not risen in the past 20 years, but repair and maintenance costs have.

The council leader is also confident this won’t put motorists off using the bridge and taking longer M27/M271 routes into the city.

If approved, the toll will be implement early next year, with February potentially earmarked. The move comes as part of the council’s plan to save £15.05 million by 2021.

The budget also includes a proposed tax hike of 2.99%, with civic chiefs claiming this increase – which equates to about £41.30 a year for Band D homes, will allow it to maintain “vital” services while battling slashed government grants. These are set to be reduced by 54 per cent over the next three to five years, they add.

Civic chiefs also claim that council tax only covers 17 per cent of its total spend.

To have your say, visit: www.southampton.gov.uk/council-democracy/have-your-say/budget-2019-2021