DRIVERS crossing the Whitchurch Bridge will see a 50 per cent toll increase from next month.

The Department for Transport approved the Whitchurch Bridge Company's application to see prices for cars to rise to 60p from 40p, and vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes to rise to £4 from £2.50.

Owners of the bridge, the Whitchurch Bridge Company, said on its website that prices will come into effect on August 12 this year.

The decision follows a public inquiry which was held in May where the company said it needed to help cover the higher-than-expected costs for repairing the 113-year-old structure. 

After a series of setbacks, the reconstruction work was delayed for nearly a year. 

The cost of the reconstruction spiralled from £6.4 million to £8.7 million. Initially the company had planned to borrow £1.2 million, but ended up borrowing £3.4 million and it wants to pay the loan back within 15 years.

An action group in Pangbourne and Whitchurch were formed against the toll rise, saying that the company successfully raised the toll in 2009 to help pay for the refurbishment.