NORTH KENT: Government to sell Dartford Crossing in the summer (From News Shopper)

NORTH KENT: Government to sell Dartford Crossing in the summer

7:30am Saturday 12th December 2009 in News By Michael Purton

A GOVERNMENT report has outlined plans to sell the Dartford Crossing to a private company in summer next year.

A report published yesterday said “the necessary processes will commence during summer 2010” for the sale of the bridge between north Kent and Essex, officially titled the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

Both the leader of Dartford and Gravesham Council, as well as motorist group the AA, fear a private company will raise the crossing toll, despite bridge users calling for it to be scrapped.

Dartford Council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite said: “Once and for all it puts the lid on any possibility of motorists getting the promise the tolls would be scrapped. Before you know it the tolls will rise.”

“They have been fattening it up for sale for years telling lie after lie after lie about what they have been doing with the Dartford Crossing, pretending it’s about congestion and helping motorists.

“You’re putting issues like air quality and health in the hands of private companies, and if I’m honest it’s likely to be a foreign company.”

In the last financial year 51,662,878 vehicles used the bridge, generating around £67.3m for the government from the tolls.

The government report said any contract to sell the crossing over the Thames to a private company will forbid excessive toll charges.

It said: “Given the monopolistic nature of this asset, the charging regime under a concession will need to be set within a contractual framework in order to protect users.

“Charges will be set at a level that is appropriate for both users and any potential concession owner, and is consistent with economic efficiency and the government’s policy objectives around managing congestion.”

However, Gravesham Council leader Councillor Mike Snelling called this promise an “illusion”.

He said: “I see a possibility of the crossing going to a foreign purchaser and the government promise there will be absolute control on the running of the bridge and the toll will prove to be an illusion.”

Cllr Snelling views the sale as a “panic measure” by the government to raise money needed due to their own financial mismanagement.

Currently the tolls are in force between 6am and 10pm and a car must pay £1.50 to cross, while motorists with a Dart-tag discount have to pay just £1.

A spokesman for the AA said it was unlikely a private company would buy the bridge and not maintain the tolls or even raise them.

He said: “Our concern would be the only reason someone would want to buy it is to make money from the tolls.

“The prospect of future toll increases would not be good for the people of Dartford and those using the crossing.”