10,000 demand scrapping of Dartford crossing tolls

THE Government is coming under growing pressure to reverse the 50 per cent increase in the Dartford river crossing charge.

A cross-party campaign of MPs, council leaders, the Mayor of London and small businesses argues that local motorists are being targeted unfairly.

More than 10,000 people have signed a petition on the No 10 website calling for the whole charge - increased from £1 to £1.50 last month - to be scrapped. But there are fears the cash toll for a car or light van to use the bridge or tunnels - the only crossing in the Thames Gateway - could rise further. Critics say the pre-Budget report reveals work has been commissioned to "realise value for the taxpayer" at the crossing. They describe the discount scheme for local residents, which applies to those living 20km away in Thurrock and Dartford but excludes nearby Bexley and Havering, as unfair.

They criticise the Government for scrapping the £1.75million of ring-fenced annual funding for road improvements in Thurrock and Kent.

James Brokenshire, MP for Hornchurch, who is leading the campaign, said: "It's astonishing that in these tough economic times the Government should be viewing the Dartford river crossing as a cash cow for the Treasury."

Boris Johnson said: "I am opposed to this increase and I will continue to push for an expansion of the local residents discount boundary to include Bexley and Havering."

The Federation of Small Businesses said: "We believe the original promise to axe tolls should be honoured."

Tolls were introduced to pay for the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Those costs were met by 2003, but the Transport Department said charges were still needed to control traffic. The number of vehicles at the crossing fell to 53.2 million last year, the fewest since 2002-03.

A department spokeswoman said: "Having charges helps tackle congestion and revenue is invested in local transport. We allow free travel from 10pm to 6am and a discount scheme gives local residents 50 free crossings a year and a reduced 20p charge on all subsequent journeys."