Alok Sharma, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West, and Pangbourne District Councillor Pamela Bale expressed disappointment at the decision by the Whitchurch Bridge Company to increase the Bridge Card Toll price from 13.89 pence to 20 pence from Monday 1st March on top of the 100% increase in the standard cost of a single crossing.

Alok and Pamela made a joint submission to the Whitchurch Toll Bridge Public Enquiry in 2009 asking the Inspector to reject the proposed 100% increase in the toll price for standard journeys and freeze concessionary fares at current levels for a reasonable period of time.

Alok said: "The increase of over 40% in the concessionary rate is extremely steep and most unwelcomed at a time when so many people are having to watch the pennies and the only saving grace is that the Toll Bridge Company has given a commitment to hold this rate until 2013."

Councillor Bale added: "As a part of our submission to the public enquiry we called on the bridge owners to restore free crossing for blue badge holders and freeze the concessionary rate for a reasonable period of time. They have certainly frozen the concessionary rate - but only after imposing a big hike!"