Despite calls to scrap the Dartford Crossing Toll and allow vehicles to move freely across the river, the Government now propose to increase the standard charge from £1.00 to £1.50 later this year.
The charge was introduced in 1963 and was designed to pay for the construction costs of the tunnels and latterly the bridge. These costs were finally paid off in 2002 and the legal authority to charge a toll expired in April 2003. However, the Government decided to continue the toll under the guise of a congestion charge, thereby retaining a net annual revenue of some £50m.
Now R.A Councillor, Clarence Barrett has created a petition to the Prime Minister which calls for the toll to be scrapped, as soon as is practicable, on the following grounds:
a) The congestion, which can stretch for many miles on either side of the crossing, is largely due to the effect of the tollbooths themselves.
The charge was introduced in 1963 and was designed to pay for the construction costs of the tunnels and latterly the bridge. These costs were finally paid off in 2002 and the legal authority to charge a toll expired in April 2003. However, the Government decided to continue the toll under the guise of a congestion charge, thereby retaining a net annual revenue of some £50m.
Now R.A Councillor, Clarence Barrett has created a petition to the Prime Minister which calls for the toll to be scrapped, as soon as is practicable, on the following grounds:
a) The congestion, which can stretch for many miles on either side of the crossing, is largely due to the effect of the tollbooths themselves.
b) The exhaust fumes generated by thousands of cars waiting in line causes unnecessary environmental damage.
c) The delays add unnecessary expense to business and transport costs.
If you are interested in this perhaps you could support/pass on, etc or sign the petition.
The petition can be signed by visiting
http://www.haveringra.org.uk/ or
3 comments:
In this present economic climate when companies are making redundancies or closing down how can the Dartford Crossing justify a fifty percent increase for something that is allready paid for years ago! and to add insult to injury I was sent a letter promotting the fact that as a dart tag holder they would only charge me £1 thereby saving me 50p, at present it costs me 93p therefore it is an INCREASE not a saving!! I use the crossing twice a day five days a week.
6-month no-toll trial
Please support petition to the government to prove the toll reduces congestion with an independently assessed 6 month no-toll trial.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/DartNoTollTrial/
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