A ROW has broken out over the Southampton City Council's decision to spend more than £840,000 buying new pay and display ticket machines.

With the current machines approaching ten years old the Lib Dem-run council has agreed to use £842,000 to replace them before they start failing.

But the opposition Labour group at Southampton City Council has criticised the move, saying there are other, more pressing projects in the city.

Richard Williams, ward councillor for Woolston, said: "Some lampposts in the city are nearly 30 years old. Their reliability is questionable and they are in need of work. This £842,000 is an awful lot of money to put forward on something that doesn't necessarily need fixing at the moment.

"Perhaps the money should be spent on other things that cut crime like providing adequate lighting."

When installed the new meters will give motorists 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 on line.

Lib Dem councillor Peter Wakeford Cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: "Many lampposts are falling apart but there are other issues that also need to be addressed.

"We do need a programme of maintenance that can be followed and we need to look across the city."

David Beckett, Cabinet member for finance, said: "Often so many things come up at once but we do need these new machines or we will lose the revenue."

Twenty five per cent of lampposts in the city are expected to be replaced.