Bexley and Gravesend MPs gun for discounts on Dartford toll (From This Is Local London)

Bexley and Gravesend MPs gun for discounts on Dartford toll

1:49pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News By George Sargent

Charges on the Dartford crossing have risen

BEXLEY and Gravesend MPs have called for Dartford toll discounts for their constituents.

On October 7 charges rose from £1.50 to £2 for cars, £2 to £2.50 for two axle goods vehicles and from £3.70 to £5 for multi-axle road users.

Erith and Thamesmead MP, Teresa Pearce, told News Shopper: “The discount should extend to Bexley residents but we shouldn’t be paying in the first place.

“If you talk to anybody locally, they were sold the crossing on the promise that it would be free.

“What we need is those taken away. It’s a tax on people who are living in the south east of London.

“It’s a tax on their job. There is no other way to get across the river, it is the only way.

“At a time when we are asking people to take the shortest route and asking them to look further a field for work it’s ridiculous."

Gravesham MP, Adam Holloway, told News Shopper: “People who work across the river are spending four pounds a day on the toll and spending great swathes of their lives in queues.

“I don’t know how many times I have written to ministers but they are just not going to do it.

“I have written to every new transport secretary about it. But I don’t see any prospect of it happening.

“The whole thing has been a complete nightmare because we have got nowhere.”

Earlier today London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley, James Cleverly, asked London Mayor, Boris Johnson, to persuade the government to give a toll discount to Bexley residents.

He also asked Mr Johnson, in Mayor’s Question Time, to implore the government to scrap the increase to the tolls.

He said: “The Dartford Crossing was originally due to charge a toll until it had paid for itself. That date passed in 2002.

“Whilst I understand that the government feels unable to scrap fees in this difficult economic climate, any increase is unacceptable.

“In addition, residents in Dartford and Thurrock are eligible for a significant discount when they use the crossing. Bexley residents should be eligible for the same discount.”