AN increase in toll charges at the Dartford River Crossing has prompted the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to urge Members of Parliament to question the Secretary of State for Transport on its usage.

Essex FSB spokesman on Transport, David Wenham, said: "Essex FSB has been campaigning against the Government's increase in tolls at the Dartford River Crossing and believes that the claims made by the Government that the increased charges will ease traffic congestion are fundamentally flawed.

"The only way such congestion reductions could be achieved is if fewer vehicles use the crossing or if more vehicles use the DartTag - and there is no evidence to suggest that either is happening from the comments we have received from our members.

"Indeed we are receiving reports that the queues are longer as the toll booths require a minimum of two coins now rather than one for the car charge and the figure for HGVs is a very awkward £2.90 which needs at least five coins.

"Essex FSB believe in basing its campaigns on facts which is why we have now written to all Members of Parliament in Essex, Havering and Redbridge seeking their assistance to get hard data from the Government on the number of vehicles paying (a) by cash and (b) by DartTag for each month from November 2008 onwards with the same data for the equivalent month in the previous year as well as how many Dart Tags have been issued each month since the new charges were introduced.

"We suspect that the hard data will support the comments we are receiving from our members and hope that local MPs will work with us to obtain the facts from the Department for Transport."