PROTESTERS staged a demonstration at Whitchurch toll bridge on the day the fee doubled.
Members of pressure group Tollfreeze.com picketed the entrances to the bridge, which now costs 40p to cross.
Police were called as drivers stopped to sign the protesters’ petition, causing tailbacks in the village.
Monday’s protest came after the Government approved the toll increase following a public inquiry in June.
The Whitchurch Bridge Company argued it needed the revenue to pay for a £3.2million reconstruction of the Grade II-listed bridge, planned for 2013.
The move was opposed by residents, parish councillors and Henley MP John Howell.
Tollfreeze wants Oxfordshire County Council to buy the bridge and remove the toll.
Phil Lewis, of Whitchurch, who founded the group with Colin Cooper, of Whitchurch Hill, said: “We feel the company has mismanaged the bridge.” He claimed most drivers who crossed the bridge on Monday supported the protest.
Mr Cooper said: “The main reason for the huge toll increase is the plans for the new bridge were drawn up so late.
“The company had 107 years to plan and save for the increase but left it to the last five years to plan in detail. That leaves very little time to raise the money. However, because of the way the law that governs the bridge is drawn up, this delay actually boosts the bridge company’s return while harming the people that use the bridge.
“The county council, as paid adviser to the bridge company for the last 15 years, is equally responsible for this delay. We are calling on it to step in and sort out the mess it helped create. It has the power under the Highways Act to do so.”
Bridge company secretary Geoff Weir said: “We were surprised to see anyone come out after the inquiry decision.”
He said the company had no problen with a peaceful demonstration but had to call the police because children were in the road and queues built up as drivers were “accosted at their windows”.
He said the protesters were “going to get nowhere” with their argument.
A county council spokesman said it had no plans to take on the maintenance of the bridge and was working with the company on the reconstruction plans.
Published on 02 November 2009
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