LEADING figures in Thurrock Council have pledged to keep up the fight for a toll-free Dartford Crossing.
Tolls on the crossing will change on the evening of Saturday, November 15, when Thurrock residents will be able to apply for a special Dart Tag to receive major reductions in the toll charges — 50 free crossings per year, with further crossings charged at 20p.
Charges for those not having the special discount tag, those living outside Thurrock (and Dartford) and for commercial vehicles will be going up.
The changes also mean that Thurrock Council and Kent County Council will lose special funding from the crossing which can be used for transport in those areas.
Councillor Neil Rockliffe, Thurrock’s Cabinet member for Transport, said: “Once again the views of this council and Thurrock’s residents have been ignored.
“Although this scheme has been forced upon us, residents can be assured that we will not give up the fight to make the crossing free to local residents.
“While I admit it is good news for a few residents, it is bad news for Thurrock Council — and therefore the majority of local people — as we will lose £1 million in transport funding and local businesses as vans and lorries are exempt from the discount.
“The commercial vehicles of Thurrock-based businesses will be hit by the higher charges when they are introduced adding a further financial burden on local firms who will pass the extra costs onto the consumer.”
For residents seeking the special Dart Tag, a new customer centre opened on Monday at the Dartford River Crossing for drivers wishing to apply for the new local discount scheme.
It will also handle other applications including those for all classes of Dart Tags.
The customer centre will be open between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday with a late opening until 7.30pm on Thursdays.
The centre can be contacted on 01322 280200, or enquiries can be sent by email to admin@ dart-tag.co.uk. More details of the scheme are available at www.dart-tag.co.uk
Thurrock Gazette
No comments:
Post a Comment