A proposal to increase the tolls on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry by 13 per cent from April next year has met with strong criticism from MP Sheryll Murray.

The rise put forward by the bridge and ferry joint committee has been backed this week by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council and would see an extra 20p added to the current non-concessionary charge of £1.50.

The MP for South East Cornwall says that in the current economic climate, when most people are struggling, a rise would be unacceptable.

Mrs Murray said the committee must look at its own housekeeping matters more stringently before heaping more expenditure on to the taxpayer.

In a report, the committee said the toll rise introduced in 2010 had helped to increase the reserves to what was considered to be a prudent level of £2m.

However, it also said a drop of five per cent in traffic using the bridge had led to a reduced income of £9.951m, which was £0.221m lower than the budgeted forecast.

The reserves were also expected to fall in the next few years because of rising maintenance and operating costs.

But Mrs Murray has criticised the report for not being clear enough to justify a toll increase.

'We need more transparent figures and a report out in the public domain which everyone can understand,' she said. 'It is unreasonable to say there is a reduction in usage and then put up the charges.

'The committee needs to look at the report very carefully and at its own housekeeping to find savings for itself before heaping more expenditure on to the taxpayer.

'They need to be looking at their own wage bill and increases in wages, staffing levels, and at running a reduced level of reserves over the next couple of years in the current financial climate.'

Mrs Murray added that an increase would have a negative effect on many of her constituents who use the bridge to travel to work.

'A 13 per cent increase on the toll is an extra hardship when they are already coping with low wage increases, against a higher cost of living and fuel costs,' she said.

The MP is to write to Transport Minister Simon Burns, whose permission has to be sought for all toll increases, saying there is a need for more facts and figures and a clearer reason to justify a higher toll charge.

Committee joint chairman Mike Pearn, from Torpoint, said: 'I understand our MP's concerns but we are all in the same boat.

'We will be holding another meeting in March to decide the best way forward.

'We don't want to just put up the tolls for the sake of it but the money has to be found from somewhere.

'It would be regrettable but necessary.'