THE plan to double the toll for crossing the Clifton Suspension Bridge could come under government scrutiny if objectors get their way.

Trustees of the 147-year-old internationally famous landmark say extra funds are needed for £8million worth of "vital repair and maintenance work" over the next decade.

They want government approval for putting up the cost of a single crossing for cars and motorbikes from 50p, introduced in January 2007, to £1.

But protesters say the financial case for any rise has to be clearly made out and want a public inquiry held. They claim doubling the toll will cause parking problems on both the Leigh Woods and Clifton sides of the bridge, and cause people to use streets off Hotwells Road as rat runs, as happened when Bridge Valley Road was closed for repairs.

As a charity the trustees do not go out of their way to court publicity. All meetings are held behind closed doors and the dates are never advertised.

However, latest figures available show toll income of £1,569,041 for the year ending December 2010, a rise of £123,000, which is attributed to the closure of Bridge Valley Road. A total of 3.48 million vehicles crossed the bridge.

In a report to the Charity Commission the trustees say that with the re-opening of the road bridge crossings will "resume the slow downward trend of recent years".

Investment income had "reduced significantly to £224,000" because of low interest rates and dividend yields.

Reserve funds total £7.6 million of which £5 million is ring-fenced for unexpected or emergency work. Another £1.5 million is for project commitments, of which £900,000 relates to the proposed new visitor centre and £600,000 to improvement of the maintenance yard. A further £1.1 million is designated for "new maintenance projects" over the next 10 years.

People who live in Clifton fear a toll increase will choke their narrow roads and steep hills with extra traffic using them.

Graham Wyles, of Granby Hill, said: "I think I speak for everyone around here when I say there will be a detrimental effect on the quality of our lives. In these times of austerity regular users of the bridge might say they can manage a 50p toll but £1 will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. They will find alternative routes.

"We had experience of this with the closure of Bridge Valley Road. We couldn't open our windows because of the smell of brake and clutch fumes and all the noise. There was all kinds of behaviour as drivers argued about who had right of way. I've lived here six years and seen the amount of traffic slowly increase."

John McGoldrick, co-ordinator of the National Alliance Against Tolls wants the Department of Transport to hold a public inquiry into the proposed increase.

"It seems a large amount of money is being spent on things like illuminations and the visitor centre. That is probably great for the Bristol area but motorists are already paying a fortune through petrol and taxes."

Objectors have 42 days in which to lodge protests after the trustees advertise their proposals in a local paper.

Tim Baines, clerk to the trustees said: "We have yet to lodge the application but I would expect it to be submitted in the reasonably near future."

He says regular bridge users will still be able to benefit from a reduced rate buying in advance bulk quantities of crossings stored on an electronic pass card.

Trust chairman Dayrell McArthur said increased toll income was not for funding a new visitor centre.

"Significant economies can be achieved by building the Heritage and Learning Centre at the same time as the maintenance workshop and administration facilities. But the £1.5 million, which for eight years the trust has ring-fenced as a contribution towards the cost of the development, is insufficient to pay the total cost of £1.9 million," he said.

To augment funds support will be sought from other sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund. He said the trustees do not receive any outside help towards their costs from local or central government.

Kate Buss, chair of the Leigh Woods Society, said: "The proposed increase needs to be looked at. The financial case for raising the toll has to be clearly demonstrated. What are the trustees doing in these times to cut their costs? We shall be lodging our concerns.

"Parents will have to spend an extra £5 a week to take children to school. When tolls were last increased in January 2006 more motorists parked their cars in the roads around here and walked across the bridge. "