SCRAP DARTFORD TOLL WRITE TO YOUR MP!

If you are in agreement that the Dartford Toll should be axed and vehicles allowed to move freely over the crossing without paying a ‘congestion charge', then please write to your MP and ask for their commitment to scrap the ‘toll'.

The construction costs of the tunnels, and latterly the bridge, were paid off in 2002 and the toll should then have ceased. Instead the Government continued to profit by £55m a year by renaming the ‘toll' a congestion charge. The fact that the collection of the congestion charge is causing the congestion is a detail lost on the Government!

The Government response to our 10,000 petition justified the continuation of the charge on the basis that traffic would increase by 17% (ie 25,000 vehicles a day) if the charge were lifted. This preposterous piece of logic defies even the most basic scrutiny, quite where these 25,000 vehicles are going at the moment nobody, including the Government, knows!

If you are not sure who your MP is then follow this link , enter your postcode and contact details will appear.

Below is some suggested text for a draft letter or Click here to download.

Dear xxxxxxxxxxxx,

Abolish the Thurrock/Dartford Crossing ‘Toll'

As you will be aware, the Government has continued to charge a ‘toll' on the Thurrock/Dartford Crossing even though the construction costs for the tunnels and latterly the bridge were paid off in 2002.

The ‘toll' is now described as a congestion charge and I am sure you will agree that it is the collection of the ‘toll' which is largely responsible for creating the congestion in the first place.

The Government response to a 10,000 strong petition in opposition to the charge justified the continuation of the charge on the basis that traffic would increase by 17% (ie 25,000 vehicles a day) if the charge were lifted. This bizarre piece of logic defies even the most basic scrutiny, quite where these 25,000 vehicles are going at the moment nobody, including the Government, knows!

The charge should be scrapped, as soon as is practicable, on the following grounds:

a) The congestion, which can stretch for many miles on either side of the crossing, is largely due to the effect of the tollbooths themselves

b)The exhaust fumes generated by thousands of cars waiting in line causes unnecessary environmental damage

c)The delays add unnecessary expense to business and transport costs

I would be most grateful if you would indicate your support for the campaign to abolish the ‘toll' and to apply pressure on the Government to bring this about at the earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

xxxxxxxxxx

 

28.6.09