A GOVERNMENT minister has told MPs removing the toll barriers from the Dartford Crossing would be “irresponsible”.

Junior transport minister Chris Mole was replying to an adjournment debate in the House of Commons, about the crossing, called by Essex MP James Brokenshire who hopes to represent Old Bexley and Sidcup at the next election.

Days earlier Mr Mole had suggested the journey times, measured in August, between the A2 junction to the Thurrock Lakeside junction were 10mins 11secs northbound and 11mins 40 secs southbound.

This is despite the findings of the Transport Department’s own study published earlier this year into the capacity at the crossing, which found nearly half the crossing users experienced delays of more than nine minutes.

Mr Mole also admitted in the six months to September there had been 69 ministerial correspondences and 139 communications from the public on the congestion issue.

Backed by Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett, Mr Brokenshire has been pressing the government to get rid of the toll barriers because he says they are largely responsible for the congestion at the two tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

Mr Brokenshire argues while the amount of traffic using the crossing is falling, congestion is getting worse.

The government says it is looking at the possibility of revamping the crossing barriers by improving their layout and technology, or removing them for traffic coming into Kent and and revamping the London-bound pay booths increasing the number and changing the layout.

But Mr Mole argued there would still be traffic queues without the tolls.

He said: “The crossing was designed to handle up to 135,000 vehicle movements each day , but it is not uncommon for there to be 160,000.

“Removing the charge and taking the barriers away altogether is not the answer.

“It would be irresponsible and would have a negative impact on people’s safety.”

Mr Brokenshire also raised fears of rocketing tolls if the government goes ahead with plans to sell the crossing into private ownership.

Mr Mole said the charging regime under any privatisation would protect users.

He said his department would be producing initial views on the capacity options early next year.