DARTFORD TOLLS SHOULD BE SCRAPPED

[Elton]

The Freight Transport Association is angry that discounts for using the Dartford crossing are to be restricted to local residents and that the facility is not to be extended to local businesses. FTA says that local industry, as daily users of the facility and providing employment and a contribution to the local economy, should also enjoy free transit.

 

FTA's Director of External Affairs, Geoff Dossetter said, 'We have always said that, since the construction of the crossing has long since been paid for, tolls at Dartford should be totally scrapped. For industry and motorists they are costly and inconvenient and the process of slowing traffic to collect a toll is very bad for air quality. On many occasions the collection of the toll adds to congestion problems.

 

'A discount scheme for local residents is good news and a step in the right direction. However, it should undoubtedly be extended to local commercial vehicle operators who use the crossing as part of their daily process of delivering or receiving goods and services.

 

'Commercial vehicle operators are key contributors to the local economy and should be supported.

 

'The continuing collection of tolls at Dartford is outdated, unnecessary and unfair and should be stopped.'

[poledark]

Hear hear. We were promised that once it had been paid for (and it has been) then it would be free. And just what makes a Dartford resident special? I have never lived in Dartford, but I have paid out a fair bit in tolls over the years.

 

Den

Edited February 8, 2008 by poledark

[Cranfield]

Den, I remember that same promise they made when they opened it.

 

The funniest thing was, some stupid Minister of Transport, or whatever, on Radio 4 yesterday said that if they stopped charging and opened up the toll booths, it would create traffic congestion on the M25.

He never explained the logic of his statement, perhaps because there isn't any.

[poledark]

You must have been tuned in to the same mental home radio station as me Brian

 

He seemed to be implying that there was an alternative crossing that others would switch from!

 

Den

Edited February 8, 2008 by poledark

[Elton]

Den, I remember that same promise they made when they opened it.

 

The funniest thing was, some stupid Minister of Transport, or whatever, on Radio 4 yesterday said that if they stopped charging and opened up the toll booths, it would create traffic congestion on the M25.

He never explained the logic of his statement, perhaps because there isn't any.

 

LOL Even if that was true, how does it explain the 'necessity to charge' bit?

[Leon Roskilly]

Still Free for Cyclists

 

Talk of reducing the toll for cars after 10pm

 

 

(hmm! that's gonna need some careful planning when returning from the mother-in-laws. I wonder if there will be problems caused by drivers slowing down on the M25, trying to ensure that they don't arrive just before the cut-off time. Probably the road will go quiet at around 9:30pm, then a wall of slow moving traffic will approach the toll booths at around 9:58pm!)

 

Of course if you have a Dart Tag you'll only pay £1 instead of £1.50

 

(Although I don't make that many crossings, I have a Dart Tag. It saves fumbling for change, winding down windows etc and I love the bleep as you are recognised and the barrier opens so you don't have to come to a stop . Useful too when there is little commercial traffic and the Dart Tag only lane is the only lane moving during periods of congestion)

 

 

http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/home.php

Edited February 9, 2008 by Leon Roskilly

[barry luxton]

The funniest thing was, some stupid Minister of Transport, or whatever, on Radio 4 yesterday said that if they stopped charging and opened up the toll booths, it would create traffic congestion on the M25.

He never explained the logic of his statement, perhaps because there isn't any.

 

That was the reason used by the transport minister to hold the latest 'consultation' to increase the fee's. I do notice that for years the main holdup is up to ten mile que on a friday night coming back into kent purly on the basis of collecting the fee. If the tos@ers wanted to ease congestion, that is the time to open the tolls up to make the traffic flow. Tos@ers. I hate them.

 

 

p.s. got a kin parking ticket up london this week as i helped someone with a plumbing problem and overstayed me scratch card by ten mins. Bast@ds. I hate them.

[Norrie]

Hiya, They, ( whoever THEY are) are in the process of taking away the Toll Booths on the Forth and Tay bridges....at the moment you only pay for going North on the Forth, and south on the Tay bridge..the holdups can be awful at times, but they say that will improve when the last booths are gone.. Not before time IMHO..

 

We are also getting an extra Kincardine Bridge crossing further up the Forth,, it must be terrible living in Kincardine at rush hour...it should be finished in the next year or so...:)

[John E Ashford]

Any one coming out of Kent aught to be Toll Charged.

 

For those going into Kent, WHY !!!

[barry luxton]

Any one coming out of Kent aught to be Toll Charged.

 

For those going into Kent, WHY !!!

 

As a man of kent or a kentish man you make me feel like someone who is second class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday to John

Edited February 9, 2008 by barry luxton