CONTROVERSIAL plans by Southampton transport chiefs to spend more than £840,000 on new pay and display ticket machines have been given the go-ahead.

Members of the city council's ruling Liberal Democrat group have approved the scheme - in spite of protests by Labour group members who said that there were more pressing projects in the city.

The replacement programme was agreed during a city council Cabinet meeting.

Meters in the city are almost ten years old and are nearing the end of their shelf life according to city transport chiefs.

When installed, the new machines will give drivers a wide choice of payment options that will allow the authority to work towards government requirements.

These will include smart/credit card applications, real time monitoring, solar-powered machines and the ability to pay tariffs online.

Last year, city transport bosses raised £1.695m in parking revenues from ticket machines.

Labour members had wanted the £840,000 used to upgrade street lights in the city.

Councillor Jill Baston, city council Cabinet member for environment and transport, said the council had a requirement to manage traffic in Southampton in a cost-effective way.

She said: "It seems a large sum but there are considerable benefits to replacing them in one programme and significant financial savings to be made by doing it."