In November last year the tolls were removed at the Dartford Crossing. This is where Kent connects to Essex across the River Thames. It is the busiest crossing in the U.K. designed to carry 135,000 vehicles per day; because the design capacity has been exceeded, the crossing is subject to major traffic congestion and disruption. Therefore the Highways Agency decided to spend between £48 and £62 million on removing the tolls and other road improvements.
The Dartford Crossing has been described by the Highways Agency as “A vital transport link for the national and South East economies”. By removing the tolls a free-flow electronic charging system called ‘Dart-Charge’ based on automatic number plate recognition was introduced. It was thought that this would speed up traffic flow easing congestion in and around the Dartford area. However, as a local resident, I have not found this to be the case. The approach to the crossing is repeatedly blocked causing traffic jams throughout the town. Dartford MP Gareth Johnson recently called an urgent meeting to try and resolve the problems remaining with traffic congestion at the crossing at in surrounding areas.
As well as being angered and inconvenienced by the traffic congestion, several local residents have experienced difficulties in re-applying for the discount scheme which was put in place for those living nearest the crossing, thus are affected by the pollution, to get money off when travelling across this stretch of the motorway. Frustration all round!
With the increase in houses being built in the surrounding areas and the proposed theme park near Ebbsfleet, if nothing is changed the problem will only get worse. In my opinion the only solution is another crossing somewhere in the South East.
Serena Self - Dartford Girls Grammar School
