DARTFORD residents will soon have the chance to benefit from cheaper crossings at the Dartford Crossing when the new charges are introduced.

The new charges come into effect at 10pm on Saturday (Nov 15) and local residents will be entitled to 50 free crossings per year after paying a £10 annual administration fee. Additional journeys will cost 20p.

To benefit from the discount residents need to register annually and apply for an electronic tag which should be displayed in their car's windscreen.

Residents living in the district of Thurrock will also benefit from the discount after paying the £10 admin fee.

At the moment cars passing through it pay £1 each way 24 hours a day, but under the new proposals the standard cost will be £1.50 at busy times but free between 10pm and 6am.

Chris Bull, the district manager of Gravesham Libraries, who is a keen local historian, regularly uses the crossing.

He said: “My view is that the new charges might help congestion a bit because people who are going on holiday may leave a little bit earlier or later to avoid the charges.”

Mr Bull also said that as a resident of Gravesham, he will not benefit from the local resident discount but has no other option than to use the crossing as normal because there is no alternative.

Motorists living outside of Dartford and Thurrock can still get cheaper crossings by joining the DART-Tag scheme which offers reduced rates for all users of the crossing.

The scheme currently allows motorists to cross for 93p during the day and night, but under the new proposals motorists will be charged £1 during the day and between 10pm and 6am it will be free.

The transport minister Rosie Winterton confirmed that the discount would be going ahead in June this year following a public consultation on the scheme which ended in May.

At the time the minister said: "Local people made a strong case for a discount and we have listened.

"We will introduce the local discount alongside the new charging regime for all vehicles in the autumn."

For more information about the charges call the customer centre based at the crossing on 01322 280200.