Ryde Pier toll replaced by hike on some Wightlink tickets

Meanwhile, the operator says it is dropping the toll on Ryde Pier.     

The payment to drive along Ryde Pier was introduced in 2011.

In September 2019, Wightlink doubled the price of cash payments from £1 to £2. It cost £1.30 if you used a cashless system.

Just one month later, it reduced the cash payment to £1.30, after what it called 'customer feedback'.

Now, the payments are to be scrapped altogether.

The toll was introduced to fund maintenance of the 207 year old listed structure.

It costs around £250,000 a year to keep it in a safe working condition, said Wightlink.

Meanwhile, major plans, worth £10 million, will see the creation of the long-awaited Ryde transport hub and the transformation of the old pier tramway, into a dedicated cycle and pedestrian walkway.

• Ryde Pier tramway transformation as £10 million Transport Hub project revealed

The pier provides access for passengers using Wightlink's fast foot passenger-only ferry, between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde. 

Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield says: “Abolishing the toll and removing the barrier will reduce delays for people wanting to drive up to the FastCat terminal, making for an easier journey especially for commuters.”   

Instead of a £1.30 Pier Toll per vehicle, there will now be a supplement of 50p to the price of individual FastCat journeys.

Multilink, Season Ticket and Business Pass holders will not be affected.