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People in Kent are losing out in cash for roads from the
Dartford Crossing tolls.
Kent County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways
Keith
Ferrin today said the crossing charging system needed a
'radical overhaul' for Kent to benefit.
The Department
for Transport (link opens in a new window) is proposing a
discount scheme for drivers in Dartford to pay a £10 registration
fee in return for 50 free crossings a year. This is due to be
introduced in the autumn.
However, the £1million a year which KCC has been getting from
the tolls towards integrated transport schemes in Dartford and
Gravesend is being phased out.
Keith Ferrin said: ""The Dartford Crossing tolls don't reduce
congestion, they add to it. Motorists are repeatedly held up in
lengthy queues on both sides and residents suffer from noise
pollution.
"While Kent has been receiving £1million a year in loan
sanctions, ie we have been allowed to borrow the money, in future
we will not even get that."
"The Government is going to divert the cash away from Kent into
national transport projects, while we continue to suffer.
"There must be better ways of doing this which are of benefit to
more people in Kent. The charging system needs a radical overhaul
to make it fairer for all.
"As it stands, residents in Gravesend won't get the benefit from
the proposed discount even though they live four kilometres closer
to the crossing than some people living on the Essex side who
qualify.
"We believe in putting the people of Kent first. These proposals
seem to do the opposite." |