Why get upset about something we've never had?

Yes it would have been nice to get a discount, but just on the other side of Bexley borough is the Woolwich river crossing - that's free already.

It also joins directly to the A13 which goes straight into Thurrock.

If people are so desperate to cross the river for free, they can get on the ferry.

...if it's working that is ;)

they make it sound like every resident in dartford uses the bridge and so should have discount! if it was compulsary for them to use it then yes they should have discount on the price, but fact is, just like many other boroughs, only a small percentage actually use it everyday, so why should they be favoured? it is mainly used by lorrys and delivery vans anyway so if anyone is entitled to a discount it should be the companies that regularly use it!

I thought that the whole crossing was supposed to be free once it had been paid for by the toll charges?

Obviously makes too much revenue for the government to stop charging users.

Maybe they have done this to wind up Erastus who lives in Bexley? :)

"rob some of the most isolated and deprived communities in the Thames Gateway area of better job prospects".

Most in Bexley are against the Gateway Bridge! What more do you want. If that bridge went across you would get cheap crossings and the chance of getting jobs. If most of the people in the so called deprived communities can afford to run a car and pay for the very exesnsive fuel then they can afford to pay the crossing fee. If they get a DART TAG it will be even more cheaper for them.

Wrong! ABC London. if the thames gateway bridge goes ahead, only a small minority of bexley residents will get a discount, unlike other boroughs where people who live much further away from the bridge than those in bexley, will get cheap rates.

That's because the Gateway Bridge would have covered two boroughs this side of the water. So is that why Bexley are so against it! NO..they are against it because it will take trade away from the little shops in the area. But Bexley can't have the best of both worlds can they. Why don't Bexley MP's encourage people to get off their ar*es to get jobs in Bexley. There are jobs in Bexley arn't there! You don't need to travel across a bridge to get jobs. Again if you can afford a car then pay the crossing charge.

As a government employee, travelling from Bexley to Thurrock, I will not be entitled to the discount. My journey time is currently 35mins. If i had to use the Ferry or Blackwall tunnel, although it is free, it is an extra 30mins each way, thus making my carbon foot print larger. This government really cannot see the wood for the trees. I also work with people who, for the government, travel from Surrey who need to cross the bridge, should they not be entitled to the discount?? Should every road-tax, car-insurance, MOT paying driver not be entitled to the discount. Surely this will just give c**vs a discount on getting from lakeside to bluewater.

Cllr Clement said Dartford was the nearest river crossing point to Bexley and the proposal would "rob some of the most isolated and deprived communities in the Thames Gateway area of better job prospects"

This is the same council that opposed the Thames Gateway Bridge, which would have given discounts to it's poorest and most disadvantaged communities in Thamesmead and Abbey Wood, to get across the river and open up more Job opportunities for them. What the spineless little tory jerk should have admitted was that rich people living in the South of the Borough who use the Bridge to get to work will have to pay more and he doesn't think that is fair. To pretend he gives a monkeys about the disadvantaged is nonsense.

RJ Moan wrote:
As a government employee, travelling from Bexley to Thurrock, I will not be entitled to the discount. My journey time is currently 35mins. If i had to use the Ferry or Blackwall tunnel, although it is free, it is an extra 30mins each way, thus making my carbon foot print larger. This government really cannot see the wood for the trees. I also work with people who, for the government, travel from Surrey who need to cross the bridge, should they not be entitled to the discount?? Should every road-tax, car-insurance, MOT paying driver not be entitled to the discount. Surely this will just give c**vs a discount on getting from lakeside to bluewater.

If you remember back when the plans for charges were put in place, if you have a pre-paid DART-Tag card it will increase from 93p to £1. So you will save 50p on each crossing.

I am also a government employee, I didn't moan when they put the bus prices up and I certinly don't expect to get free travel. It is your choice to drive so therefore pay the price.

I don't agree with the fuel increases but it is my choice to own a car.

Fran wrote:

RJ Moan wrote: As a government employee, travelling from Bexley to Thurrock, I will not be entitled to the discount. My journey time is currently 35mins. If i had to use the Ferry or Blackwall tunnel, although it is free, it is an extra 30mins each way, thus making my carbon foot print larger. This government really cannot see the wood for the trees. I also work with people who, for the government, travel from Surrey who need to cross the bridge, should they not be entitled to the discount?? Should every road-tax, car-insurance, MOT paying driver not be entitled to the discount. Surely this will just give c**vs a discount on getting from lakeside to bluewater.

If you remember back when the plans for charges were put in place, if you have a pre-paid DART-Tag card it will increase from 93p to £1. So you will save 50p on each crossing. I am also a government employee, I didn\\\'t moan when they put the bus prices up and I certinly don\\\'t expect to get free travel. It is your choice to drive so therefore pay the price. I don\\\'t agree with the fuel increases but it is my choice to own a car.

I think maybe i din't explain myself properly but giving a discount to those who live in those borough's, whether they use the bridge or not just doesn't make sense, surely people who have no real choice but to drive this route on a daily basis should be entitled to some form of discount, given the tax and high prices we pay for owning a vehicle. This is where we are let down, I would not be saving 50p a crossing I would be losing 7p per crossing because the prices are put up to force us onto other roads or modes of transport that just aren't available. Other than cycling on extremely dangerous roads, taking a 3 1/2 hour journey on buses/trains or having enough money to own a boat there is no other means of me getting to work. I would happily take public transport if there was the option. So i will continue to pay high petrol prices, road tax and £2 a day to get to work as there are no other options to choose from.

Dartford residents are subjected to tons of unnecessary car emissions due to the toll. I think its only right they should get a discount.

RJ Moan wrote:

Fran wrote:

RJ Moan wrote: As a government employee, travelling from Bexley to Thurrock, I will not be entitled to the discount. My journey time is currently 35mins. If i had to use the Ferry or Blackwall tunnel, although it is free, it is an extra 30mins each way, thus making my carbon foot print larger. This government really cannot see the wood for the trees. I also work with people who, for the government, travel from Surrey who need to cross the bridge, should they not be entitled to the discount?? Should every road-tax, car-insurance, MOT paying driver not be entitled to the discount. Surely this will just give c**vs a discount on getting from lakeside to bluewater.

If you remember back when the plans for charges were put in place, if you have a pre-paid DART-Tag card it will increase from 93p to £1. So you will save 50p on each crossing. I am also a government employee, I didn\\\'t moan when they put the bus prices up and I certinly don\\\'t expect to get free travel. It is your choice to drive so therefore pay the price. I don\\\'t agree with the fuel increases but it is my choice to own a car.

I think maybe i din't explain myself properly but giving a discount to those who live in those borough's, whether they use the bridge or not just doesn't make sense, surely people who have no real choice but to drive this route on a daily basis should be entitled to some form of discount, given the tax and high prices we pay for owning a vehicle. This is where we are let down, I would not be saving 50p a crossing I would be losing 7p per crossing because the prices are put up to force us onto other roads or modes of transport that just aren't available. Other than cycling on extremely dangerous roads, taking a 3 1/2 hour journey on buses/trains or having enough money to own a boat there is no other means of me getting to work. I would happily take public transport if there was the option. So i will continue to pay high petrol prices, road tax and £2 a day to get to work as there are no other options to choose from.

You could move and stop moaning

RJ Moan wrote:

Fran wrote:

RJ Moan wrote: As a government employee, travelling from Bexley to Thurrock, I will not be entitled to the discount. My journey time is currently 35mins. If i had to use the Ferry or Blackwall tunnel, although it is free, it is an extra 30mins each way, thus making my carbon foot print larger. This government really cannot see the wood for the trees. I also work with people who, for the government, travel from Surrey who need to cross the bridge, should they not be entitled to the discount?? Should every road-tax, car-insurance, MOT paying driver not be entitled to the discount. Surely this will just give c**vs a discount on getting from lakeside to bluewater.

If you remember back when the plans for charges were put in place, if you have a pre-paid DART-Tag card it will increase from 93p to £1. So you will save 50p on each crossing. I am also a government employee, I didn\\\'t moan when they put the bus prices up and I certinly don\\\'t expect to get free travel. It is your choice to drive so therefore pay the price. I don\\\'t agree with the fuel increases but it is my choice to own a car.

I think maybe i din't explain myself properly but giving a discount to those who live in those borough's, whether they use the bridge or not just doesn't make sense, surely people who have no real choice but to drive this route on a daily basis should be entitled to some form of discount, given the tax and high prices we pay for owning a vehicle. This is where we are let down, I would not be saving 50p a crossing I would be losing 7p per crossing because the prices are put up to force us onto other roads or modes of transport that just aren't available. Other than cycling on extremely dangerous roads, taking a 3 1/2 hour journey on buses/trains or having enough money to own a boat there is no other means of me getting to work. I would happily take public transport if there was the option. So i will continue to pay high petrol prices, road tax and £2 a day to get to work as there are no other options to choose from.

Or you could get a job closer to home!

I work in Central London, does this mean I can then get a discount on my Travelcard?!! No-one is forcing anyone to go across the bridge, you can find a job nearer home!