A BEXLEY MP has demanded a share of the profits from the Dartford Crossing tolls for public transport improvements in the borough.

Erith and Thamesmead MP John Austin was speaking in a debate on the tolls in the House of Commons called by Hornchurch MP James Brokenshire.

There has been anger in some boroughs, including Bexley, about arrangements since tolls for using the crossing rose in November.

Dartford and Thurrock borough residents, no matter how far from the crossing, have been granted reduced tolls.

Yet people who live much nearer the crossing, in boroughs such as Bexley, still have to pay full price.

Despite pleas from Bexley MPs and others, the Government has refused to budge on its position.

MPs believe the Government now rakes in more than £50m in profit from the Dartford tolls after it decided in 2003 not to honour a deal which promised the tolls would be abolished once the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was paid for.

Instead, £1.75m of the toll profits was shared by Dartford and Thurrock councils for local public transport improvements.

With the offer of reduced tolls for their residents, this money has now been withdrawn.

Mr Austin told transport minister Paul Clark: “The Mayor of London has scuppered phase two of the Greenwich Waterfront Transit, which puts in doubt any possibility of phase three, its extension into Bexley, Belvedere, Erith, and, perhaps, on to Dartford, happening.

“Would the minister consider making some revenue available for public transport improvements in Bexley?”

Mr Brokenshire, now the prospective Tory Parliamentary candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup, said: “Instead of guaranteed funding for local roads and infrastructure, we have a discount scheme which appears to be limited to a small group of people, potentially living up to 20km away from the bridge.”

Mr Clark replied there was already funding from other sources, such as Transport for London, available for areas such as Bexley.

Afterwards Mr Austin said: “As the minister will not extend the discount zone to Bexley, I think we deserve some specific allocation for local transport improvements.

“The Mayor of London has treated Bexley very badly in his allocation of money for 2009/10.”