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The Eling toll bridge has been subject to several proposed changes in a bid to help pay for future repairs.
An overhaul of the existing rules has been put forward by Totton and Eling Town Council.
The plans include hiking the £1 crossing cost to £2 and scrapping the free passes for residents of Eling Hill.
Merrilyn Dracass, who has lived in Eling Hill since 1979, described the proposals as ‘draconian’.
The 80-year-old said: “The bridge has been there for hundreds of years, and it’s not fit for heavy traffic.
“The proposal by the town council to solve this is to double the toll.
“We only live 50 to 100 yards from the bridge, our neighbours even closer, so to suggest we should go the long way round to get to Totton if we don’t pay the toll is ridiculous.”
She added: “It can be incredibly congested, and one doesn’t want to be sitting in a line of traffic puffing out diesel fumes. It’s not eco-friendly.
“The sensible thing for residents is to go across the toll bridge.
“We have had our free passes to cross the bridge for 40 years.
“I cannot see any good reason why they should be withdrawn.”
READ MORE: Millions spent on crossing the Itchen Bridge in 8 months after toll hike
Currently, those exempt from paying the toll include NHS staff on duty, council workers, Blue Bade holders, Parcel Force and Royal Mail vehicles, visitors to the cemetery, and those attending services at St Mary’s Church.
But these exemptions will also be scrapped if plans are given the green light.
Conservative councillor for Marchwood and Eling, Richard Young said: “The wider community costs from removing residents’ exemptions would include generating additional vehicle emissions, worsening air quality, and creating a barrier to residents freely accessing their education, healthcare, and retail facilities.
“To date there has been no modelling, no business plan, and no equality impact analysis published which might help our community to better understand the necessity of what the Town Council proposes.”
But David Harrison, Liberal Democrat councillor for Totton South, said increasing the toll price will reduce traffic in the area and create a sustainable future for the bridge.
He said: “The structure of the bridge needs to be maintained and to do that, you must have a model that makes sense financially.
“The increase from £1 to £2 is justified and there has not been a price increase in 20 years.
“While residents won’t be happy about the increase, they will be happy with the reduced amount of traffic.
“Those living in Eling village and Bury Brickfields can buy an annual pass costing £25 to cover the administration charges.”
A decision is set to be made by New Forest District Council – who own the bridge – on Wednesday.
