We told you so – that’s the message from union bosses after Southampton’s transport chiefs admitted that a new automated toll system in the city wasn’t working.

Coin toss bins, electronic smartcards and barriers controlled by sensors were installed on the Itchen Bridge as part of a council masterplan to improve traffic flow for people entering the city.

But the barriers have been removed after a number of incidents in which they crashed down on vehicles.

Now Unison, which represents the 33 staff who work on the bridge, has called for the automated scheme – introduced by the previous Tory administration in 2010 – to be scrapped in favour of a return to fully manned booths.

Unison branch secretary Mike Tucker said: “We believe there has to be a strong physical presence on the bridge to ensure its smooth operation. If the new equipment isn’t working then the council should reconsider its position to make it automated and reconsider making people redundant.”

No redundancies have yet been made with all 33 Itchen Bridge workers remaining on the site during the “transition” period.

But council chiefs say they intend to press ahead with the scheme. A spokesmansaid: “In future a reduced number of staff will remain working in a supervisory capacity.”