Kent County Council (KCC) is considering introducing a vignette to charge trucks as they enter the country as a way of paying for a possible third Dartford crossing. KCC is launching a detailed study into the feasibility of a third crossing because of increasing congestion at the current site. A KCC spokesman tells CM the study will consider all aspects of the proposal including its site and the funding to pay for the development.
"Obviously
we are considering tolls on the crossing itself, but we are also looking at whether we can introduce a Brit Disc or vignette. "All lorries entering Kent at the Port of Dover or via Eurotunnel at Ashford would be charged in the region of £35-£45 every time they entered the county." He adds that British companies would then be able to reclaim the money.
"Foreign lorries are coming into Kent and using our roads but are not paying for it, and this would be a way to ensure they pay their way," he adds. "We believe we can raise in the order of £35m towards the cost of a crossing this way." KCC expects its study to take at least a year and says it is conducting it itself because the Department for Transport (DfT) has not undertaken a study, despite indicating that it would. The DfT was not available for comment.
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