EXORBITANT TUNNEL TOLLS
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I WAS delighted to see that you devoted your editorial (CM May 25) entirely to complaints regarding the Dartford Tunnel. and no doubt you will send a copy to Linda Chalker.
I would like to point out, however, that the Road Haulage Association has also taken issue with the Dartford Tunnel management on the question of tolls, both generally and more specifically with regards to the amount charged for the movement of abnormal loads. These are currently running at £22 for all vehicles.91t 6in and upwards, plus the normal tunnel fees for all movements between 6am and 10pm, which we feel is exorbitant, especially as this also applies to empty vehicles which happen to be 9ft 6in wide.
We recently moved one of our cranes through and it was brought in convoy with a number of petrol tankers. which are escorted completely free, while our crane driver had to sign a bill for £22, There can, in my view, be no logical justification for this.
The tunnel authorities' argument is that the charge for abnormal vehicles and their loads is justifiable in relation to the costs which would be expended were they not to use the tunnel, but this same argument should surely be applied to the tankers.
The most sensible argument has got to be removal of the tunnel tolls, since even provision of 10 booths in each direction will not solve congestion problems, as all the traffic will need to fan out to each booth and then converge again to the normal traffic lanes.
As you will probably appreciate, I have spent a considerable amount of time on this particular subject, and would be happy to assist you in any way possible.
Charles Oliver Director Beck and Pollitzer Crane and Transport Dartford Kew