A DISGRUNTLED road user has started a petition calling on highway bosses to review the new layout of the Dartford Crossing.

Toll barriers were removed from the river crossing in November in a bid to improve journey times.

But unhappy drivers believe the altered layout has done nothing to speed up traffic.

A petition on the parliament.uk website, calling for an independent investigation into the layout, has already been signed by more than 2,000 people.

If 10,000 people sign it, the Government is obliged to provide an official response.

Motorist Matthew Henry, who started the petition, said: “The new, redesigned layout of the Dartford river crossing is not working.

“There are perpetual tailbacks causing harm to all road users.

“There is currently no way to complain or give an opinion on this. It’s a disgrace and needs to be looked into to assess its viability.

“It simply has become a farce.”

Mr Henry claims the road suffers from continuous tailbacks, even on weekends, also blocking up surrounding roads.

Instead of paying at toll booths, drivers must now pay online, by phone or at shops by midnight the day after their journey.

But the system has experienced teething problems with the automatic number plate recognition cameras at the crossing.

It has been revealed that eight out of ten drivers who appealed fines issued for non-payment have had their tickets torn up.