Dartford Crossing toll scrapping welcomed

Date: 5/10/2009

Plans to scrap the southbound toll at the Dartford Crossing in Kent have been welcomed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

Highlighting that it would cut commercial delivery times and associated costs, the group's head of policy for the south-east welcomed the decision.

Gordon Telling said: "Anything that can be done to reduce the time a lorry is spent sitting in traffic is good news for hauliers and will also improve air quality in the area."

Noting that both lorry drivers and other motorists have to use the crossing, he added: "Removing toll plazas, for a crossing that has long-since been paid for anyway - removes a bottleneck that costs businesses hundreds of thousands of pounds a year."

Although the crossing is free from a toll at night, multi-axle goods vehicles must pay £3.70 to use it between 06:00 and 22:00.

No receipt is given and drivers cannot pay by debit or credit card.