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Opposition gathers over rise in price of Dartford crossing
Page 8
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The DiTis plans for a price increase have angered hauliers and the local council. Sally Nash reports.
DARTFORD BOROUGH council has joined forces with the Freight Transport Association (FTA) in condemning the government's proposal to increase charges on the Dartford tunnel and bridge during the day.
The Department for Transport (DIT) wants to scrap overnight charges to encourage more freight to travel outside peak hours. while introducing price hikes for daytime journeys.
Under the changes. a multi-axle goods vehicle using the pre-paid DA RI-Tag card tag system during the day would have to pay £3.20 instead of £2.70. The cash charge for the same vehicle is due to go up from £2.90 to £4.00.
But the move has angered the F IA and Dartford Borough Council. Speaking on radio last week, council leader Jeremy Kite agreed with the FTA that the government has gone back on its promise to scrap charges when the cost of the crossing had been met.
FTA external affairs director Geoff Dossetter says: -Collecting tolls at Dartford adds to the prospect of interrupting the smooth running on the M25, an extremely busy stretch of road."
Transport minister Stephen Ladyman, who announced the changes, says: "In the longer term, pressure at the crossing will continue to get worse. I've therefore requested a study of how we can address this, including the possibility of a new crossing."
The government will consult on the proposals and expects the new regime' to come into effect by January 2008. Its original plan was to scrap all charges for the Dartford crossing once the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, completed in 1991 and used for southbound traffic, was paid for.
Since then. from 2003, the DfT has received an estimated £200m from the toll.