This post is for anyone who has sat in a queue at the Dartford River Crossing (DRC), between Kent and Essex, and fumed at the ridiculous delays caused by stopping every vehicle to extract a charge to use a tunnel or bridge that has already been paid for!
Now they want to INCREASE the charges! Well, the good news is that you now have a chance to tell the government what you think.
At www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-08 you can not only read about the proposals to increase the charges but you can submit your views. You only have till 23 September to do so, however.
You will see on page 8 of the consultation document dated June 2011 that under the heading "Proposals for improvements" it says:- "The increase in charges is both a measure to manage demand ..........................."
I interpret that to mean "We aim to deter drivers from using the DRC by raising the charges", which, in my view, is not only immoral, but counterproductive to a good economy and happy drivers. And what about those drivers who have no alternative to using the DRC?
The next paragraph talks about suspending charges in times of high congestion. That, at least, is an admission that it's the charges that cause the congestion. This is in contrast to the response given by the previous government to a Downing Street petition, a few years ago, to cancel the charges. The response at the time claimed the charges made "no difference" to the flow of traffic.
Near the bottom of the web page it gives you the chance to submit your views, either online or by post. If you click the "Respond online" button it brings up another page. You then need to go to the bottom of that page and click the "Online consultation" button. (They don't make these things easy, do they?)
On the form there are a number of boxes to tick but be wary of ticking the one that asks whether you want more use made of Dart Tags as this could be interpreted by the government to mean you're happy to pay a toll, whereas I'm pretty certain most of you will want free passage, thus providing an unrestricted flow of traffic, less money lost by those on business and less fuel used by everyone.
Don't forget, you only have till 23 September to submit your views.
If you feel strongly about other similar issues concerning the raw deal the motorist gets these days,
then please visit http://www.abd.org.uk/
John Clayton
Now they want to INCREASE the charges! Well, the good news is that you now have a chance to tell the government what you think.
At www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-08 you can not only read about the proposals to increase the charges but you can submit your views. You only have till 23 September to do so, however.
You will see on page 8 of the consultation document dated June 2011 that under the heading "Proposals for improvements" it says:- "The increase in charges is both a measure to manage demand ..........................."
I interpret that to mean "We aim to deter drivers from using the DRC by raising the charges", which, in my view, is not only immoral, but counterproductive to a good economy and happy drivers. And what about those drivers who have no alternative to using the DRC?
The next paragraph talks about suspending charges in times of high congestion. That, at least, is an admission that it's the charges that cause the congestion. This is in contrast to the response given by the previous government to a Downing Street petition, a few years ago, to cancel the charges. The response at the time claimed the charges made "no difference" to the flow of traffic.
Near the bottom of the web page it gives you the chance to submit your views, either online or by post. If you click the "Respond online" button it brings up another page. You then need to go to the bottom of that page and click the "Online consultation" button. (They don't make these things easy, do they?)
On the form there are a number of boxes to tick but be wary of ticking the one that asks whether you want more use made of Dart Tags as this could be interpreted by the government to mean you're happy to pay a toll, whereas I'm pretty certain most of you will want free passage, thus providing an unrestricted flow of traffic, less money lost by those on business and less fuel used by everyone.
Don't forget, you only have till 23 September to submit your views.
If you feel strongly about other similar issues concerning the raw deal the motorist gets these days,
then please visit http://www.abd.org.uk/
John Clayton
Martin.
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