PLANS to charge motorist an extra 20p per crossing of the Itchen Bridge have taken another step closer after civic chiefs signed off on its new budget.

The proposals will now go to a 12-week consultation, which starts on October 24, giving residents a chance to have their say.

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.

But this 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.

The move comes as part of the council’s proposed new budget, which looks to save £15.05 million by 2021.

If approved, the toll will be implement early next year.

But, as previously reported, the proposals were met with mix responses, with conservative leader Dan Fitzhenry blasting the plans.

“We would not be doing that,” he said.

“This is just another tax on motorists.

“What the Labour council is effectively doing is making it as difficult as possible to to drive into the city, at a time when we should be helping them.”

However, cabinet members have disputed this.

It comes as the council prepares to release its plans for a proposed Clean Air Zone.

One of the recommendations in the recently finished consultation included plans to charge commercial vehicles.

This has been heavily criticised by local business, with some saying it may “kill off” some city traders.

But the council has been backed the scheme having been tasked by central government to reduce its nitrogen dioxide amount to the EU-imposed level of below 40 micrograms per cubic air metre by 2022. It is currently 42 micrograms.

If it fails to do so, the council will be billed for the hefty fine the EU will impose on Westminster.

The chargeable zone, civic chiefs say, will allow the city to reach the target in the “quickest possible time”.

Despite the backlash, green campaigners have welcomed it, adding the council should be doing even more.