A committee has approved a 150% hike in the monthly charge paid by electronic tag holders, using a cashless account to cross the River Tamar.

Members of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee voted to increase the standing charge for having a TamarTag account from 80p a month to £2, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The Tamar Toll Action Group said the rise in fees to use the prepaid electronic tolling system was not good for “any resident or business reliant on crossing the Tamar to go about their daily lives”.

Tamar Crossings said it was reviewing the system and advance warning would be given to all users ahead of any changes being implemented.

A report to the committee’s meeting on Friday said there had been increased spending of £57,000 on the cashless system due to a higher numbers of users and the need to replace lost or damaged tags, which are small devices fitted to the windscreen that activate when the vehicle enters the toll plaza.

It said the annual income from tag accounts would go from £460,000 to £1.15 million in 2026/27 as a result of the increase.

In May motorists saw a 20p increase in the toll charge to £1.50 and car and vans without a tag now have to pay £3 to cross from Cornwall into Devon via the bridge or ferry.

The increase in tolls was given the go ahead by the transport secretary after the committee said it would help stabilise finances over the next four years.

It blamed financial woes on rising inflation, higher maintenance costs and fewer people using the crossings since Covid.

Tamar Crossings said of the increase in fees: “Further information will be shared at a suitable time, with plenty of notice provided to all users ahead of any changes.

“We appreciate the public’s patience while this process is underway.”