The following details are posted on the www.scrapthetolls.com/
Government to increase tolls by 50% Tuesday 19th October 13:00:00 GMT 2006
The government today announced that in order to 'reduce congestion' it would be increasing tolls on the Dartford Crossing by 50% for those who do not hold 'Dart Tag' pre-payment cards.
U.K. Independence Party Leader & local MEP Nigel Farage said that the increase proved that the tolls were 'nothing more than a cash cow for the government'
Users will see charges for cars rocket to £1.50, unless they subscribe to the Dart-Tag scheme, which requires them to pay their monthly charges in advance ? a ?win-win situation for Government stealth taxes?, as Mr Farage described it.
?The Government excused its duplicity, when continuing tolling charges in 2003, by saying that the tolls would hold down congestion. ?These new charges confirm that congestion has worsened, removing the Government?s justification for tolls. Common sense suggests that making 150,000 vehicles a day stop on the busiest motorway in Britain will create congestion and pollution. Electronic charging will not change this.
?If the Government was as interested in the health of local residents and the environmental costs of traffic queues as it was in fleecing motorists, it would abolish the tolls immediately.?
I missed any comment about this in the newspapers or on the tv, also it seems as though it has not been discussed before. For an infrequent user of the crossing I am outraged at this proposal. It is bad enough using this link at present due to road works, but to be fleeced even more is outrageous.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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"increase tolls by 50% to 'reduce congestion' "
So exactly how does that work then ????
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Phil
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"increase tolls by 50% to 'reduce congestion' " So exactly how does that work then ???? -- Phil
Amen to that-there's no other ####### crossings on that side of London! This sucks...
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Assuming an extra 3 seconds for the machines to recognise and digest the 50p, and assuming a third of people use the machines rather than the manned booths, thats 50,000 x 3 = 42 hours per day to be spread amongst the auto-tolls.........
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Further to my earlier post, I see on the same site the following:
They were supposed to go after the Crossings were paid for
Wed Nov 30 12:00:00 GMT 2005
When the tunnel was built in 1969, the tolls were supposed to be scrapped once enough cash had been taken to cover both the cost of construction and the on-going maintenance. This period was extended with the construction of a second tunnel in the late 1970's, and extended once again with the construction of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which was completed in 1991. The crossings were finally paid for, and enough money set aside for their maintenance, in 2003. The government, however, immediately moved to reverse the promise first made over 3 decades earlier, preferring instead to trouser the £65m + profit it generates each year. They did have a consultation process first, but, despite hundreds of responses opposed to the continuation of the tolls, the outcome was as could have been predicted without the pointless expense of pretending the consultation would change anything.
Also I see that the difference in charges between peak and off-peak for goods vehicles breach EU rules.
They are illegal under EU law
Wed Nov 30 12:00:00 GMT 2005
In 1999, the government signed up to EU Directive 99/62, which sets the rules for tolls and 'user charges' for goods vehicles. It specifically states that (a) revenues collected should only be used for the maintenance of the roads on which they are collected, and (b) that although operators are free to vary tolls according to time of day, the maximum charge can not be greater than 100% more than the minimum charge. For goods vehicles, the charges are £1 off peak and £2.90 peak, a 190% difference. Despite repeated complaints to the European Commission, no action has been taken. And yet if you were a butcher and broke EU meat hygiene regulations, how long would it be before the government destroyed your business? Do we really want to live in a society where the government can ignore the law when it proves inconvenient?
My only comment is these tolls are government greed to help finance their budget deficit. As usual the motorist is a soft touch - we cannot manage without cars or society will collapse. One day we shall rebel again like the fuel strike. However next time I feel it will bring the government down.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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I thought the running and all profits of the Dartford Tunnel, went to the now owners, some French conglomerate, so whatever this Shoddy Govt does I can't understand how they are going to benefit- the worse thing is as we all know it was agreed upon construction the tolls would be banished, but once the Govt. see a gravy train they jump on it.
The worst thing is the alternatives don't give any more confidence.
If the Govt wanted to raise funds for road improvements- ALL foreign lorries and coaches should be weighed upon entering GREAT BRITAIN, fuel laden with goods and fuel and also on the return trip and a levy served on the difference- this will protect British jobs and pay for raodworks.
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The government pledged to end TOLLS when the bridge was paid for.They kept their pledge-what you pay is now called a CHARGE.
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The 2 Severn crossing bridges are owned by the french too,
But they take £4.90p now and will take £5.10p per car from January.
I agree Wotspur.
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you need Robbie The Pict or his counterpart as his constant challenging of the legality of tolls on the skye bridge became such an embarresment the tolls were scrapped and the pfi agreement bought out ,I believe he is now fighting to have all the nonpayers fines returned
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Back last year spent a few weeks in the area of the Darford crossing for work. We worked on one side of the river but liked the Hilton on the other. Well not many decent hotels around there to be honest.
Even though I claimed the each way £1 toll on expenses, this 50% increase is outrageous. On what grounds are they raising the "charge" I wonder apart from "congestion"? There is no alternative crossing in that area.
Furthermore, paying £1 was an easy figure and easy to keep spare pound coins. £1.50 will lead to people paying and needing change.... leading to no doubt congestion! Doh.
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Looks like a good plan to me.
Frequent users are encouraged to use the tags, which means less hold ups at the booths. (Same principle as a pass on the bus, etc - widely practiced principle)
For infrequent users an extra fifty pence isn't going to break the bank.
Removing the toll at night encourages users to use the road when its less busy - helping everyone.
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Looks like a good plan to me. Frequent users are encouraged to use the tags, which means less hold ups at the booths.
Same is achieved at the moment via automatic pound basket booths on the right hand side. Doesn't help holdups, as it's not the process of paying that slows everyone down, it's the process of filtering to booths themselves and then opening the gate and filtering out to four lanes of tunnel.
For infrequent users an extra fifty pence isn't going to break the bank.
That's not the point, 50% increase on toll that shouldn't be there in first place is still outrageous.
Removing the toll at night encourages users to use the road when its less busy - helping everyone.
There is a very good reason why people need to travel during day. What would you be traveling around M25 at night for? To wait 6 hours for your Stansted flight in the morning, or 5 hours before your work starts?
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[Nissan 2.2 dCi are NOT Renault engines. Grrr...]
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It's a bargain. Great value for money. How much will it cost you to drive into central London, cross the Thames there, and drive out again? Or drive right round the M25? Or move house? A bargain I tell you.
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I agree it is a bargain. So we bought and paid for it. Now the gov want us to buy and pay for it again.
I have just noticed that I am starting to bang my keyboard very hard whenever I type anything about this government. I think I am going for a lie down.
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