Dartford Crossing Tolls going up by 67%!

cafcfan

Now first, I admit to living in deepest Essex.  Second, according to http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-08 it will be costing me an extra 67% to cross the Thames to watch games at The Valley by next April.  With the charges going up by a basic 50p in November 2011 and another 50p in April 2012.

The rationale for this seems to be that profits from the tolls will be used to improve road infrastructure and will help to reduce traffic flows and thereby congestion.  It does, still, seem to be beyond the DfT's wit to understand that the congestion is actually caused by the toll colection and this will only get worse when the toll machines have to count a minimum of three coins rather than the current two.

Times are hard, money is tight and I don't suppose many people use the crossing just because they fancy a trip out.  So, I suspect therefore that increasing tolls will not have a significant impact on traffic volumes.

But, if I was to decide that this was the proverbial last straw and stopped travelling to CAFC, the Govt. would lose a lot more revenue from me because of all the fuel duty and VAT I'd be saving.  The whole thing is just bonkers.

If this affects you, use the above hyperlink to respond to the "consultation" and contact your local MP http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ to complain.

Chirpy Red

Use the Blackwall Tunnel, it's free.

Curb_It

I thought the toll was originally put in place to pay for the cost of building the bridge and once that was paid for it would be scrapped.

I would be very fed up indeed if i was driving daily across.

razil

you can get a discount for regular travel i think

JaShea99

My dad told me they started the tolls initially for a year to 'improve' the roads and after that year they'd get rid of them. But they never did. Typical English really, cannot resist the excuse to make money.

adamtheaddick

get the dart tag if you use it quite alot, i was always told the toll was until the bridge was paid for which was a few years ago now, such a good cash cow now that it will never be scrapped, would be chaos if they did make it free whilst they removed the booths and sorted out extending the motorway so you smoothly transfer from m25 into the tunnel and dont have that little bit of drag race track once you pass through the barrier and have 15 odd lanes trying to move into 2 lanes and choosing the right tunnel to use.

They know what there doing, as blackwall will be basically shut for the olympics (plan is to have one lane a dedicated olympic transport only) and everyone else in the other lane, its going to be chaos, so everyone will head to dartford to cross KERCHING!!!! in comes the money, sad state of the world, but hey theres alway the Ferry..

Macronate

If anything, the queues at the tolls are getting worse.

Absolute bollox and don't believe for a second that increased tolls will do what they say.

How about having designated toll booths for foreign lorry drivers with signs posted well in advance so that they move into the correct lanes. I am sick to death of getting stuck behind these people who have to climb out of their cab and walk over to a booth to pay and then come back again, select a gear etc.

No, changed my mind. How about just getting rid of the poxy toll booths to pratically eradicate the congestion.

cafcfan

Use the Blackwall Tunnel, it's free.

Oh, so you suggest that I should drag my sorry arse up the A12 past Romford and crawl through East London congestion to avoid the charge then?   Not one of the UK's traffic planners by any chance are you?

you can get a discount for regular travel i think

I do.  The system is called the Dart tag.  It's still going up by 67%.

I thought the toll was originally put in place to pay for the cost of building the bridge and once that was paid for it would be scrapped.

I would be very fed up indeed if i was driving daily across.

It was and the costs were met by 2003.  But Gordon Brown went back on Govt's initial promise.  Now its just seen as a milch cow.

JohnBoyUK

It's free to cycle through ;-)

MrOneLung

From the highway agency site

 

 Cyclists are prohibited from riding across the bridge or through the tunnels. However the Crossing staff will be pleased to arrange for cyclists to be transported from one side to the other. This service is free of charge.

Northbound cyclists should follow the cycle paths provided to the sign "Cyclists Wait here" at the Kent Control Point. From this point forward free transport will be provided to carry you and your bike through the tunnels.

Southbound cyclists should dismount at the Essex Control Point and wait for free transfer across the QEII Bridge. A free call telephone is provided should this point be unattended. If you are riding a tandem or travelling as a group e.g. a cycle club, it is advisable to make prior arrangements by contacting the Crossing. The transfer should take between 15 - 30 minutes. Click on the link for Contact details.

fadgadget

Get a motorbike , thats still free i presume ?

Rizzo

Okay, hands up anyone who actually believed them when they said the tolls would end when the bridge was paid for?

Phantom_User

 

 

Were the Dartford Tunnel and Brdige sold off to a French Company 'Le Crossing?'

My dad told me they started the tolls initially for a year to 'improve' the roads and after that year they'd get rid of them. But they never did. Typical English really, cannot resist the excuse to make money.

mid_life_crisis

Come the glorious day, the people responsible for this will be the first ones up against the wall, together with others of their type who devise new ways of conning people with dubious parking fines. 

LenGlover

The window tax came in just for the Napoleonic wars....

 

Politicians of all colours have always been lying bastards

MuttleyCAFC

Well nearly, the tolls were originally intended to be in place until the costs of the bridge were recouped.The big issue apart from the cost is that the tolls actually create congestion through the required slowing and stopping of vehicles. However, the bridge started making a profit in 2004 and it brings in so much revenue, nobody wants to give that up. I am suprised that the costs are rising though, there is no justification for this other than to milk people who have no option but to use it..

March51

Phantom User: the bridge & tunnel are administered by a French consortium (Le Crossing) on behalf of the Government for which they charge a fee. Unfortunately this subject crops up at regular intervals, and, not being a user any more I sympathise with those who still have to use it.

Uboat

I once worked out how much they must make in a day.

It was a lot.

Saga Lout

I read about this a while back - it's absolutely outrageous. 

The whole "congestion charge" argument is rubbish, as was proved when a power cut meant they had to open the booths. It's purely a money-making enterprise these days and it will make me think before I use the tunnel/bridge in future.

Was talking to a Liverpool fan today and train fares for him to go to a match have gone up from £27 last season to £51 for the coming season. It seems those in power want us to stay exactly where we are as it's too damn expensive to move anywhere other than on foot (or cycle).

CharltonKerry

Live in Dartford or Thurrock, and get the local resident discount only 20p each way, mind you they haven't said how much this will increase (well i not heard about it yet)

better red than dead

Use the Blackwall Tunnel, it's free.

Oh, so you suggest that I should drag my sorry arse up the A12 past Romford and crawl through East London congestion to avoid the charge then?   Not one of the UK's traffic planners by any chance are you?

Switch to the A13 and getting to the Blackwall tunnel is a breeze.  No hold ups, one set of traffic lights and the only problem is on wet spam home games days when they block most lanes fighting to get to the ground but stick to the outside lane and you'll have no problem.  I get from Romford to the Rose of Denmark in 20 minutes.

Uboat

Or drive all the way round the M25 and cleverly avoid the toll.

Lincsaddick

The fee to cross the Humber Bridge has been increased to £3. So a trip from Grimsby to Hull costs £6 in fees.

All this to allow the 'Humber Bridge Board'  Staff to ponce around in Range Rovers wearing quasi military uniforms doing who knows what. Mind you, the toll booth operators are well busy raking in the cash.

Rip off Britain? .. We are all being had

Uboat

.

SX_Addick

Upminster to The Valley in 45 minutes by public transport. That way I can have a few beers and not worry about driving and parking.

Arry Addick

Live in Dartford or Thurrock, and get the local resident discount only 20p each way, mind you they haven't said how much this will increase (well i not heard about it yet)

I believe Thurrock residents lost this privilege a while back.

Whilst in Dartford, we have been told that once the council sells the crossing to a 3rd party, we will lose our discount too.

Rizzo

The fee to cross the Humber Bridge has been increased to £3. So a trip from Grimsby to Hull costs £6 in fees.

People pay to go to Hull? I can understand charging to get out...

redman

To improve traffic flows - how can they say this with a straight face. Abolishing the tolls would make the traffic flow freely. Glad I only use it occassionally. Would be particularly galling as i live just about 2 miles outside teh dartford boundary

ken from bexley

Must admit that the Dartford crossing was a nightmare most friday night's when I worked at Horton Kirby 25 years ago with the traffic congestion.

I went down most  late afternoons last week and see that matter's has not improved. Quite how the traffic management system is considered here seems to be an expensive scandal?

Not that I would consider going to Lakeside/ Essex in the first place, I know avoid the area as much as possible.

THFC6061

I thought the toll was originally put in place to pay for the cost of building the bridge and once that was paid for it would be scrapped.

I would be very fed up indeed if i was driving daily across.

When has there ever been a tax which the British Government has later abolished?

Income Tax was brought-in as an emergency measure to fund the Napoleonic Wars, and they've been over for 196 years!

adamtheaddick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scsfgozp89c