Dartford Crossing tolls to rise to £2.50 (From Echo)
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Dartford Crossing tolls to rise to £2.50
4:52pm Wednesday 20th October 2010 in Local News By Melissa Hills
TOLLS at the Dartford Crossing are set to rise to £2.50 per journey.
Following the Chancellor's Comprehensive Spending Review, it emerged the tolls will rise to £2 next year and then up to £2.50 per crossing in 2012.
The controversial announcements will affect the thousands of motorists and businesses which use the Dartford Crossing daily.
A statement from the Treasury said: "The department and the Highways Agency are developing options to improve the crossing for motorists including: exploring a new additional crossing; using free flow charging to improve efficiency; and removing charges to aid flow when congestion is most severe.
"The increased charges will be used to fund this work."
Comments(72)
exsouthender
says...
7:03pm Wed 20 Oct 10
village of the damned
says...
7:06pm Wed 20 Oct 10
Interestedofessex
says...
7:16pm Wed 20 Oct 10
VictoriaLS
says...
7:24pm Wed 20 Oct 10
Frank1
says...
7:26pm Wed 20 Oct 10
They went back on a promise to stop tolls after construction costs were met and have done nothing other than take cash off us since.
They scrapped the alternative London crossing which might have eased some congestion and does anyone really think the claim to be looking at alternative crossings is anything other than spin ?
Does not matter though because we will just accept it all like we always do. Look at the reaction in France to just one measure about pensions and then compare it to all the cuts and hardship that was announced today.
No wonder they want a fixed term Parliament. Shame on the Lib Dems for propping these people up. £850bn to bail out the banks and the deficit is £150bn or thereabouts.
We are being taken for mugs.
e8joe
says...
7:34pm Wed 20 Oct 10
'V'
says...
7:35pm Wed 20 Oct 10
NEVER TRUST A TORY.
jolllyboy
says...
7:44pm Wed 20 Oct 10
Seasider90
says...
7:44pm Wed 20 Oct 10
whats right
says...
8:11pm Wed 20 Oct 10
SO WHY DONT THE COALITION MOB DO THE SAME GIVE TO PUBLIC OWNING THEN THAT MONEY RAISED BY SELLING SHOULD GO TO GETTING THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE MESS IT IS IN
BETTER STILL TRY SELLING I IT OFF TO THE GERMAN STATE ENTERPISE V D.B.SHENKNKER AFTER ALL THEY OWN A GREAT SHARE IN OUR RAILWAYS EVEN THOUGH WE WON WW2
OR WAIT TILL THE PEOPLES REVOLUTION OR NEXT ELECTION GOD WHO WANTS TO BE BRITISH I DID
BASILBRUSH
says...
8:12pm Wed 20 Oct 10
BASILBRUSH
says...
8:14pm Wed 20 Oct 10
Nutter
says...
9:16pm Wed 20 Oct 10
s off of the tunnel/bridge when something major happens. We should certainly not be paying £2.50!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But................T
here is so much more that you all dont know regarding this, that is disgraceful!!!!!!!!!
!! Do you all realise who actually has the contract for the crossings now?????????
Do you all realise that the workers have to pay the toll as well?????????
Do you all realise the maintanance/upkeep that goes into keeping it all working???????????
Not starting a big debate just wanted to know whether people actually know these points as well?????? Please comment?
el caballero de la noche
says...
9:44pm Wed 20 Oct 10
Someone has to pay the debt collector and hell the debt is massssssssssssssssss
sive.
perini
says...
10:34pm Wed 20 Oct 10
el caballero de la noche wrote:You really are a stupid cnut!
Stop moaning pay up or shut up, or you can always drive thro London and suffer the congestion charge (V mate a product of Red Ken) Someone has to pay the debt collector and hell the debt is massssssssssssssssss sive.
BASILBRUSH
says...
10:34pm Wed 20 Oct 10
Nutter wrote:On the 13th of September 2009 the contractors of the Dartford River Crossing (Le crossing) changed to Connect Plus M25, which is made up of a consortium of Atkins, Egis, Skanska, and Balfour Beatty.
Now where do i start...........i completely agree that we were told that the crossing was to be free once it was paid for and that its a complete nightmare at the bridge/tunnel and major roundabouts/junction
s off of the tunnel/bridge when something major happens. We should certainly not be paying £2.50!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But................T
here is so much more that you all dont know regarding this, that is disgraceful!!!!!!!!!
!! Do you all realise who actually has the contract for the crossings now?????????
Do you all realise that the workers have to pay the toll as well?????????
Do you all realise the maintanance/upkeep that goes into keeping it all working???????????
Not starting a big debate just wanted to know whether people actually know these points as well?????? Please comment?
PJR
says...
10:59pm Wed 20 Oct 10
'V' wrote:No, instead I'll trust a Labour Government who put us into a budget defecit of £146billion, with interest payments of £40million. A Government who decided to spend money the country didn't have.
If you voted tory this is YOUR fault. NEVER TRUST A TORY.
...
I take it you'd vote for bankrupt Britain then? Fine, I don't agree with the toll going up, but I know who I blame, and I know who is getting on with cleaning up the mess.
ethel the frog
says...
11:00pm Wed 20 Oct 10
'V' wrote:Agreed Comrade - let's keep the red flag flying,I blame Thatcher,that nice young Mr Blair blah,blah,blah......
If you voted tory this is YOUR fault.
NEVER TRUST A TORY.
.......
'V'
says...
11:31pm Wed 20 Oct 10
PJR wrote:Labour did not create the recession, the banks did.
'V' wrote:No, instead I'll trust a Labour Government who put us into a budget defecit of £146billion, with interest payments of £40million. A Government who decided to spend money the country didn't have.
If you voted tory this is YOUR fault. NEVER TRUST A TORY.
...
I take it you'd vote for bankrupt Britain then? Fine, I don't agree with the toll going up, but I know who I blame, and I know who is getting on with cleaning up the mess.
alongtheway
says...
11:39pm Wed 20 Oct 10
anon anon
says...
7:34am Thu 21 Oct 10
whats right wrote:Think you have the 'caps lock' button on
AM I NOT RIGHT THAT JUST BEFORE THE LAST FARSICAL GEN ELECTION THE BROWN TEAM SAID THEY WER LOOKING TO SELL THE CROSSING OFF SO WHY DONT THE COALITION MOB DO THE SAME GIVE TO PUBLIC OWNING THEN THAT MONEY RAISED BY SELLING SHOULD GO TO GETTING THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE MESS IT IS IN BETTER STILL TRY SELLING I IT OFF TO THE GERMAN STATE ENTERPISE V D.B.SHENKNKER AFTER ALL THEY OWN A GREAT SHARE IN OUR RAILWAYS EVEN THOUGH WE WON WW2 OR WAIT TILL THE PEOPLES REVOLUTION OR NEXT ELECTION GOD WHO WANTS TO BE BRITISH I DID
village of the damned
says...
7:34am Thu 21 Oct 10
PJR wrote:personally i don't trust any of them, no matter if it labour, lib-dem, conservative or any other party, there only init for one thing: themselves!
'V' wrote:No, instead I'll trust a Labour Government who put us into a budget defecit of £146billion, with interest payments of £40million. A Government who decided to spend money the country didn't have.
If you voted tory this is YOUR fault. NEVER TRUST A TORY.
...
I take it you'd vote for bankrupt Britain then? Fine, I don't agree with the toll going up, but I know who I blame, and I know who is getting on with cleaning up the mess.
you've got about as much of finding an honest plitician as i have in finding out my great grandad is bob geldof :L
Ian P
says...
7:36am Thu 21 Oct 10
'V' wrote:The banks may have created the recession, but the Labour Government let them do it. They could have stopped it but chose not to.
PJR wrote:Labour did not create the recession, the banks did.'V' wrote: If you voted tory this is YOUR fault. NEVER TRUST A TORY.No, instead I'll trust a Labour Government who put us into a budget defecit of £146billion, with interest payments of £40million. A Government who decided to spend money the country didn't have. ... I take it you'd vote for bankrupt Britain then? Fine, I don't agree with the toll going up, but I know who I blame, and I know who is getting on with cleaning up the mess.
Nebs
says...
7:52am Thu 21 Oct 10
A bridge charging £2.50 is worth much more than the same bridge charging £1.50. And it woun't stop at £2.50, it will be increased to £3.
Then there will be a fanfare of trumpets and an announcement that they are freezing the charges at £3 for 5 years "to help motorists", and future increases will be linked to RPI+x%, followed by a quick sell off. Probably to a foreign company who will take the money out of UK.
.
They should toll EVERY motorway in the country, .
tophatdt
says...
7:55am Thu 21 Oct 10
boom
says...
7:58am Thu 21 Oct 10
'V' wrote:I would have thought people generally overspending and living above their means was partly responsible for the mess we're in now ?
PJR wrote:Labour did not create the recession, the banks did.'V' wrote: If you voted tory this is YOUR fault. NEVER TRUST A TORY.No, instead I'll trust a Labour Government who put us into a budget defecit of £146billion, with interest payments of £40million. A Government who decided to spend money the country didn't have. ... I take it you'd vote for bankrupt Britain then? Fine, I don't agree with the toll going up, but I know who I blame, and I know who is getting on with cleaning up the mess.
Sdapeze
says...
8:14am Thu 21 Oct 10
shallotman
says...
8:37am Thu 21 Oct 10
karen29
says...
8:41am Thu 21 Oct 10
shallotman wrote:Like they are already?
Just Wait to the Government sell it. Why not start a non payment movement now, it would only take an hours stoppage, all the surrounding motorways would be at a stand still.
Mr Anory. Jack
says...
10:42am Thu 21 Oct 10
Sdapeze wrote:Ohhh love your quote Sdapeze, nip down the centre of all the stuck traffic too..
It's free for us bikers. Ha ha. Let the lard arsed car driver pay for the misery he causes on our roads.
Anyoldway, as I have both types of transport (4X4 +2 wheeled) and I hardly ever now cross into the folds of Kent the big `un, I`ll go for free on me bike.
At £2-50, its a liberty, but is it?
Anyone done a poll of other tollbridge charges in great britain yet?
Think it just may suprise you.
Blue Bage holders HAVE to pay also for crossing, unless there car is exempt from vehicle excise duty (tax), but not all bridges/crossings are the same.
RonMartinOut
says...
10:59am Thu 21 Oct 10
There is absolutely no reason that Motorbikes should get away scot free like Sdapeze quotes, they use the same road cars/lorries do.
RJS1974
says...
11:32am Thu 21 Oct 10
saarfender
says...
12:03pm Thu 21 Oct 10
RonMartinOut wrote:We used to pay the toll (slightly lower rate), but the congestion it caused was huge.
Utterly disgraceful! The toll was supposed to be abollished once the bridge was paid for, instead it got raised to £1.50 and now in 2012 to £2.50.
There is absolutely no reason that Motorbikes should get away scot free like Sdapeze quotes, they use the same road cars/lorries do.
stop bike, put on stand, remove gloves, get wallet out of pannier (not all biking leathers have pockets, plus landing on a wallet in a crash can break a rib), pay toll, put wallet away, put gloves back on, get back on bike, ride away.
It's no wonder we can no go through for free. I don't even need to stop now :)
Red Tape
says...
12:08pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Easy baby
says...
12:17pm Thu 21 Oct 10
om/watch?v=X6gyUotqw
PM
r6keith
says...
12:25pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Ray1963
says...
12:26pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Ray1963
says...
12:33pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Nutter
says...
12:51pm Thu 21 Oct 10
N R W
says...
1:13pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Sdapeze wrote:You Jerk!
It's free for us bikers. Ha ha. Let the lard arsed car driver pay for the misery he causes on our roads.
Freddy K
says...
1:48pm Thu 21 Oct 10
.
Direct action against the tolls would probably manke the Government take another look at this; however, they would also enforce the Police to arrest all those involved for blocking a public road.
.
Maybe we should get the demonstartors that blocked the Oil Depot the other day to arrange a sit in across the toll booths....
The Croc
says...
1:51pm Thu 21 Oct 10
* on the rare occasion traffic is not already snarled up.
At least with the M6 toll you have the option of travelling parallel to the motorway and paying the toll to avoid the notorious Brummie traffic jams.
The M25 crossing, well we're basically to to put up & shut up. Maybe we should persuade some of the French to take up residence in Thurrock and Dartford. They know how to kick up a fuss when the government dares to take the pi$$!
Peter Pantsless
says...
2:15pm Thu 21 Oct 10
We will moan, we will curse, we will accept it!
If Thatcher hadnt sold off all the countries assets and industry all those years ago, Cameron would be doing it now.
Just remember what you get with the tories...
The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.
el caballero de la noche
says...
3:14pm Thu 21 Oct 10
perini wrote:A really well educated comment from the type of person I was directing my comments at, and thank you for the compliment which is my favourite subject.
el caballero de la noche wrote:You really are a stupid cnut!
Stop moaning pay up or shut up, or you can always drive thro London and suffer the congestion charge (V mate a product of Red Ken) Someone has to pay the debt collector and hell the debt is massssssssssssssssss sive.
DannyK86
says...
3:30pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Mr Anory. Jack
says...
3:50pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Easy baby wrote:Made I Larf....
http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=X6gyUotqw PM
touble is, its not the bridge thats the problem, its the waterside under it.
That massive pie in the sky project, Thames Gateway, is so underfunded, so lost in direction, it needs to be "lost" behind other monetary outrages like the £2.50 tolls.
While good intentioned moaners complain about the price hike of tolls, you dont seem to mind YOUR money being wasted, in an almost criminal way.
Look up Thames Gateways costs SO FAR!
Who pays its costs, well, the communities that border the Thames for one, then the wider communities around them.
Muted as a "golden egg" by some, is in fact like the emperor`s clothes in kiddies stories. The "king" was tricked into believing he had "invisible" clothes, whereas, Thames Gateway residents have also been tricked into false hope of being "kings"
Just as transparent!
Its a funny old world sometimes eh....
MRose
says...
4:48pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Ray1963 wrote:Yeah because that will cost you a lot less than £2.50 in fuel! tell me are you chairman of the smart party of just a member?
So long as you carry on using it and paying up, it won't change. The only answer is to stop using it. I have lived all my life in Essex and regularly used the crossing but as from today I shall never use it again, I have been ripped off for long enough. I know its inconvenient but it will either be the Blackwall tunnel or a longer journey going anti clock wise around the M25 from now on.
Easy baby
says...
5:05pm Thu 21 Oct 10
village of the damned wrote:Chill!
anyone that takes the f*ckin p!ss out of me is gonna get there head smashed in!! i've had enough of all the games!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=N6m8qweJ9
Lw
Easy baby
says...
5:47pm Thu 21 Oct 10
village of the damned wrote::0) Peace
Easy baby wrote:thanks :)
village of the damned wrote:Chill!
anyone that takes the f*ckin p!ss out of me is gonna get there head smashed in!! i've had enough of all the games!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=N6m8qweJ9
Lw
i feel relaxed now after listening to that soothing tune.
Tom Neil
says...
7:27pm Thu 21 Oct 10
THAT WAS A LIE!!!
Nobody protested, they just let it happen. Therefore, they will put the prices up AGAIN and AGAIN.
They will go thru the roof, and when the crossing is sold off, they will not only go thru the roof, they will be propelled into space !
IT REALLY IS TIME TO PROTEST !!!!
A BLOCKADE is the way to go !!!!
DO NOT let these politicians sit on you.
NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION !!!!
watkins
says...
7:56pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Mary Lou
says...
9:38pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Interestedofessex wrote:What a great idea. I'll be at the front of the queue with my 250 one pence pieces and you can be at the back and hang around for several hours.
So if I'm reading this right, I have an idea:- Each morning, get a load of people to pay the £2.50 in 1p's. This will cause a backlog of traffic and then they'll open up the barriers and everybody else will get it for free!!
Mary Lou
says...
9:39pm Thu 21 Oct 10
village of the damned wrote:You really need to keep up with the medication.
anyone that takes the f*ckin p!ss out of me is gonna get there head smashed in!! i've had enough of all the games!!!!!!
emcee
says...
10:52pm Thu 21 Oct 10
DannyK86 wrote:Ah, but there you are going "abroad".
It's still cheaper than the Severn Crossing to Wales I suppose...
:o)
alongtheway
says...
11:06pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Sdapeze wrote:Its time ther wkaners on motor bikes paid up. How about increasing the tolls on all other british bridges-that would even it out a bit. plus the van drivers who sneak through the car paying tolls.
It's free for us bikers. Ha ha. Let the lard arsed car driver pay for the misery he causes on our roads.
Boris
says...
11:11pm Thu 21 Oct 10
Trainman
says...
12:17am Fri 22 Oct 10
Frank1
says...
12:39am Fri 22 Oct 10
The bridge was supposed to be free after construction costs were met.
Then they spun us a line about retaining the tolls to improve transport infrastructure. In the meantime, congestion has got worse and the only possible relief that might have been delivered was cancelled when the East London crossing was cancelled.
There has finally been a scheme for local residents introduced to offer a discount but it is far from perfect. The toll not only affects the M25 but also the approach roads whenever there is an incident of any kind. The whole place grinds to a halt and yet neither of the 2 previous governments have done anything to improve the situation.
This latest increase in tolls is a cynical move to make the crossing even more attractive as a cash cow for it's eventual sell-off.
Both Kent and Essex councils are looking at a new crossing but it is pretty obvious, regardless of the current economic situation that this will never happen.
Within a few years traffic will increase even more with the opening of the Thames Gateway port and the expansion of Tilbury. The recent Spending Review retained the widening of the M25 in key locations and yet the bottleneck at Dartford will remain whilst traffic will increase.
Yes, I can drive 15 additional miles in to London to use a tunnel but is that an answer to reducing congestion and emission ? Sending more people in to the already congested London area simply to drive out again is ridiculous. There is not even a sensible alternative with public transport - the train in to London to simply catch another in order to go from Essex to Kent.
Would you be happy being stopped at the M11 before joining it to be charged and forced to take the A roads ?
The toll is extortion, pure and simple. They know that the alternatives are not practical. Imagine a similar situation on the other side of the M25 near Heathrow. Equally busy with the M3 and M4 feeding in to the M25, already widened to improve traffic flow and still suffers from congestion.
I don't choose to use the crossing, I often have to. I'm lucky enough to have reduced rate rail travel with work and will use trains whenever possible. The point is that it is not always possible and they are exploiting this without putting workable or practical alternatives in place.
Ray1963
says...
1:08am Fri 22 Oct 10
MRose wrote:Its not about cost you moron, its about not getting ripped off any longer.
Ray1963 wrote: So long as you carry on using it and paying up, it won't change. The only answer is to stop using it. I have lived all my life in Essex and regularly used the crossing but as from today I shall never use it again, I have been ripped off for long enough. I know its inconvenient but it will either be the Blackwall tunnel or a longer journey going anti clock wise around the M25 from now on.Yeah because that will cost you a lot less than £2.50 in fuel! tell me are you chairman of the smart party of just a member?
r6keith
says...
8:42am Fri 22 Oct 10
Ray1963 wrote:If everybody in the UK did the same and did not use the crossing there might be a way for the owners to reconsider, but this is the UK not France and I am afraid you stand almost alone in your protest so it will come to nothing ,sorry.Look at the current retirement age increase did we do jack sh*t about it going to 66 NO. The French are up in arms about thiers going to 62 ,thats the common market for you !!
MRose wrote:Its not about cost you moron, its about not getting ripped off any longer.Ray1963 wrote: So long as you carry on using it and paying up, it won't change. The only answer is to stop using it. I have lived all my life in Essex and regularly used the crossing but as from today I shall never use it again, I have been ripped off for long enough. I know its inconvenient but it will either be the Blackwall tunnel or a longer journey going anti clock wise around the M25 from now on.Yeah because that will cost you a lot less than £2.50 in fuel! tell me are you chairman of the smart party of just a member?
gitreal
says...
9:47am Fri 22 Oct 10
Ray1963
says...
10:25am Fri 22 Oct 10
r6keith wrote:Join me then, stand by your principals, use another route if you can, I know that a lot of people can't spare the time or extra cost of fuel to do it, but if you can just go for it, take the kids for a ride on a boat (Woolwich ferry) instead and although it might take you a little bit longer it's free.
Ray1963 wrote:If everybody in the UK did the same and did not use the crossing there might be a way for the owners to reconsider, but this is the UK not France and I am afraid you stand almost alone in your protest so it will come to nothing ,sorry.Look at the current retirement age increase did we do jack sh*t about it going to 66 NO. The French are up in arms about thiers going to 62 ,thats the common market for you !!MRose wrote:Its not about cost you moron, its about not getting ripped off any longer.Ray1963 wrote: So long as you carry on using it and paying up, it won't change. The only answer is to stop using it. I have lived all my life in Essex and regularly used the crossing but as from today I shall never use it again, I have been ripped off for long enough. I know its inconvenient but it will either be the Blackwall tunnel or a longer journey going anti clock wise around the M25 from now on.Yeah because that will cost you a lot less than £2.50 in fuel! tell me are you chairman of the smart party of just a member?
Tom Neil
says...
2:09pm Fri 22 Oct 10
It is time to organise ourselves and create a blockade.
The French can do it and so can we !!!
DO NOT let the Government sit on you !!!
Mary Lou
says...
4:07pm Fri 22 Oct 10
Universal suffrage and world peace maybe comrade, but a pound !!!!
karen29
says...
4:37pm Fri 22 Oct 10
kevst183
says...
9:34pm Fri 22 Oct 10
Sdapeze
says...
12:07pm Sat 23 Oct 10
Mr Anory. Jack
says...
5:26pm Sun 24 Oct 10
I used to manage to beat most rush hour trafic heading to crayford stadium on friday nights.
Then there was two......
fast foreward,
then there was a bridge crossing,
whats next?
What there has been is toll charges from day 1
Face facts guy`s, you pay`s your moneys, or you takes your choices.
Continue along the M25, or take a snake charmers route through east london, either ferry it, or tunnel it, into land of beyond on the other side..
Hmm, guess I`ll pay up and look big...
Or like the bikers, just go for free...
Tom Neil
says...
6:15pm Sun 24 Oct 10
For example "So a One Pound increase. Mmmmm that equates to any bit of tat from a pound shop"
It's not a pound, it's a 66% increase !
Now what would you say if everything increased by 66%.
DO YOU EVER THINK that you will ever get a 66% pay rise ????
I THINK NOT !!!
Another idiot said "What a lot of fuss about nothing. You lot really do need something to worry about. You happily pay the increased cost of fuel yet you whinge and carp about the Dartford crossing toll. Get a life!"
No, I think YOU should GET A LIFE !
For God's sake, WILL YOU LIE DOWN ACCEPT ANYTHING ???
It's people like this that just lay down and roll-over, that encourage us all to be kicked into the gutter without fighting for our rights.
karen29
says...
8:53pm Sun 24 Oct 10
karen29 wrote:Apparently not - Thurrock residents keep their 90% discount. Misread another article.
Looks like all Essex residents are going to get a 90% discount!
Frank1
says...
7:29am Mon 25 Oct 10
Mr Anory. Jack wrote:Back in the day there was less traffic. No Lakeside, no Bluewater, less road freight, less traffic going from and to the Dover area........
Back in the day, there was only one tunnel. there was no lakeside either..SHOCK - HORROR
I used to manage to beat most rush hour trafic heading to crayford stadium on friday nights.
Then there was two......
fast foreward,
then there was a bridge crossing,
whats next?
What there has been is toll charges from day 1
Face facts guy`s, you pay`s your moneys, or you takes your choices.
Continue along the M25, or take a snake charmers route through east london, either ferry it, or tunnel it, into land of beyond on the other side..
Hmm, guess I`ll pay up and look big...
Or like the bikers, just go for free...
The second tunnel was a response to the increase. The bridge was a response to the increase, the bridge toll was a temporary measure until construction costs were met. The continued tolls were supposed to be ploughed into reducing congestion and improving infrastruture.
Perhaps looking backwards and seeing how things WERE done is not the answer to sorting things out in the future ?
Catfish says...
5:34pm Wed 20 Oct 10