Dartford Tunnel Discounts

Residents of Thurrock are eligible for a discount scheme from Dartford Tolls charges from 15th November 2008:

• Residents will be entitled to 50 free crossings per year on payment of a £10 annual administration fee.
• Thereafter crossings will cost 20p each.

To benefit from the local discount, residents need to register annually and apply for an electronic tag to be displayed in their car's windscreen.

The annual registration fee will be £10, the same local discount registration fee as the London Congestion Charge.

The discount will be available for private cars only.

Separate discounts are available to anyone who chooses to pay using a DART-Tag. Car drivers with a DART-Tag will be able to use the crossing for £1, whereas those paying cash will from Saturday night (15 November) have to pay £1.50 - up from the current £1 - between 0600 and 2200. Use of the crossing is free of charge during the night.

Dartford Tolls – miseries of those in a hurry waiting to pay their one pound

On Friday, 25th April, Adam Holloway MP addressed supporters who backed his one-week toll free trial at the Dartford Tunnel as part of the Government’s consultation process on the Dartford Dart Tag scheme.

He asked the Secretary of State for Transport to implement a one-week toll free trial to measure the traffic, congestion and environmental impact by suspending the tolls.

Unfortunately, it was rejected. His view is that those who use the crossing think it would save time – those who have looked at maps of the crossing say it would not.

This is a rejection of local and regional opinion who support this initiative. It is also a rejection of the majority who believed that once the QE11 bridge was paid for, we would see an Axing of the Stealth Tax that is the toll levy.

Heaven only knows what personal miseries follow from people in a hurry - waiting to pay their one pound.

Those there included MPs Bob Neill, David Evennett, the Freight Trade Association and colleagues, Gary Johnson from Dartford and Jackie Doyle-Price from Thurrock.

Dartford tunnel Discounts - Update

DISCOUNTED JOURNEYS ON DARTFORD-THURROCK RIVER CROSSING

Under the proposals released today (Summarised):

• Local people will be able to make 50 free journeys in a year.
• Once the free journeys are used up, the charge will be just 20p per crossing.
• To benefit from the discount residents will need to register annually and apply for an electronic “tag” to be displayed in their car's windscreen.
• The annual registration fee would be £10, the same local discount registration fee as the London Congestion charge.
• The discount will be available for private cars only.
  
  The consultation on these arrangements are scheduled to begin next week and, subject to the outcome and the necessary technical work being completed in time, the system is expected to start in the Autumn.
  
  A further announcement about the precise start date for the new regime will be made at the end of the twelve-week consultation period.
  
  The local discount scheme will not affect separate plans to offer discounts to anyone - including drivers who are not local residents - who choose to pay via an account using a "DART-Tag".
  
  

Dartford Crossing Discounts

This is the letter about the Tolls which was recently published in the Gazette:

A recent letter to Thurrock Council has left me with a deep concern that the Government may be planning to renege their promise to provide a toll discount for residents of Thurrock once the planned increase in prices commence in April 2008. Instead, there is a proposal to pay to the Council a periodic amount of money until they can find a way to fulfil their promise. I do not think Thurrock tax payers will be hoodwinked by the government indirect backing out of the "promise" made to the residents of Thurrock.

In April 2007, suspiciously close to the local elections, the then transport Minister Dr Ladyman made a promise of discounts to residents. Dr Ladyman said: "The Dartford Crossing has brought huge benefits over the years. But surrounding communities have borne the brunt of the added fumes and jams. We have registered the strong demand for local discounts expressed through the consultation and we accept in principle that there is a case for this, alongside the implementation of the other proposals in the consultation paper." I am still adamant that we continue to hold the government to their promise and press for the promised discounts which will result in residents enjoying the direct benefit of the discounts. I have placed this on the agenda at every opportunity whenever I have meet with the Department for Transport.

Although the proposed extra funding is a step in the right direction, but we must continue to press for the discount. For Mr Public out there, especially those who use the crossing on a daily basis, the increase in fares will drastically have a direct impact on the overheads of their business. Residents were meant to be compensated by a reduction in the charge, just as residents of London receive a discount from the congestion charge. If it means lobbying alongside Dartford Council to make it happen, then let's go for it.

I think we should pursue every opportunity to drive the message home, otherwise one day we will just note that the extra funding runs to an end and then we will all be compelled to pay the hiked charge at the tolls.

Dartford Crossing Charges

I have this week sort further assurances from Dept for Transport that the proposed changes in the fare at the crossing will not commence without the promised discounts for Thurrock residents.

Although there is no official date for new toll charges, there is speculatioin that it could be as early as spring 08.

It is only fair that residents of Thurrock who have to bear the brunt of the congestion (with all its side effects) should receive discounts for the "one of the most busy crossings in Europe".

Will keep you posted.