Hauliers face a 22% rise in the cost of using one of the most important roads in Britain when the Dartford Crossing puts up its tolls on the 15 November.
The increase takes the cost of the crossing for multi-axle goods vehicles to £3.70 (now £2.90) while vans will be charged £2 (now £1.80). But not all charges are going up: it is free to cross between 10pm and 6am and there will no longer be a charge for towing a trailer.
When the crossing was built, it was planned that tolls
should continue only until it was paid for. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is among those who believe that the tolls should be scrapped completely rather than increased.
Natalie Chapman, regional policy manager for London, the South-East and the East of England at the FTA, says: "We do not see the point in continuing with the charge. It would be more palatable if we knew where that money was going to. If it was going to go on a new Thames crossing we wouldn't be happy about it but we would stomach it."
A spokesman for the Department of Transport says the tolls were scrapped and that what is in place now are charges rather than tolls.
He adds: "Tolls were replaced by charges intended to address congestion. Studies have indicated that traffic would increase by 17% if there weren't charges."
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