Decision details

To consider the report of Senior Manager, Regulatory Services relating to unresolved objections to The City of Southampton (Itchen Bridge Tolls) Order 2012. The Order relates to the new scheme allowing automation of the bridge tolls and the use of the Southampton Smartcard to pay for the tolls. The Order and some of the definitions have been altered.

Considered the objections to ‘The City of Southampton (Itchen Bridge Tolls) Order 2012’ and approved the Order as set out in Appendix 2.

To fulfil the Council’s obligation to consult upon proposals and consider objections prior to any decision to amend the Tolls Order.

The original business case for changes to the collection of tolls included options for doing nothing, removing the toll and allowing free passage when volumes are low. As none of these options would address the need to significantly reduce operating costs, control traffic flows and provide bridge users with more modern payment options they have been rejected.