Dartford MP opposes Dartford crossing toll increases (From News Shopper)

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson submits letter to Government in opposition to Dartford crossing toll increases

4:23pm Tuesday 27th September 2011 in Dartford & Swanley news By Rachel Conner

Gareth Johnson against Dartford crossing toll increases

DARTFORD MP Gareth Johnson has submitted a letter to the Department of Transport in opposition to the proposed Dartford Crossing toll hike.

The letter has been signed by 11 MPs who all have concerns about the impact the increases will have on local people and businesses.

Mr Johnson said: “I would like to see the tolls scrapped completely - the crossing could be a positive thing for Dartford, instead it is Dartford’s nemesis.

“I welcome the fact that the Department of Transport is tackling the congestion at the crossing but I still feel the tolls need to be completely removed.”

The letter was also signed by David Evenett, Mark Reckless, Adam Holloway, Rehman Christhie, Jo Johnson, Rebecca Harris, Tracey Crouch, Andrew Rosindell, Gordon Henderson and Lee Scott.

The letter outlines the concerns held by MPs, including levels of congestion, increased pollution across the entire area as motorists try to find alternative routes and the detrimental impact on businesses which rely on the crossing.

The letter also puts forward scrapping the tolls altogether as the best solution to the problems.

It reads: “This would also be the fairest solution for motorists and businesses. This is a situation we call on the Department to work towards.

“However, in the absence of the tolls being completely removed, we support the substituting of the tollbooths with a free-flow charging scheme as a mechanism of tackling the congestion.”

A recent survey of businesses in London, Kent and Essex revealed 86 per cent of the 590 respondants disagreed with an increase in toll charges.

The proposals suggest increasing car charges from £1.50 to £2 by the end of the year, with a further rise of 50p to come into force in 2012.

Meanwhile, lorries will see a rise from £3.70 to £5 by the end of the year, which will increase to £6 in 2012.

The consultation on increasing the toll charges finished last Friday [September 23].