Dartford Crossing tolls to rise to £2.50 (From Thurrock Gazette)

• "It is far too simplistic to say avoid it Trainman.
  
  The bridge was supposed to be free after construction costs were met.
  
  Then they spun us a line about retaining the tolls to improve transport infrastructure. In the meantime, congestion has got worse and the only possible relief that might have been delivered was cancelled when the East London crossing was cancelled.
  
  There has finally been a scheme for local residents introduced to offer a discount but it is far from perfect. The toll not only affects the M25 but also the approach roads whenever there is an incident of any kind. The whole place grinds to a halt and yet neither of the 2 previous governments have done anything to improve the situation.
  
  This latest increase in tolls is a cynical move to make the crossing even more attractive as a cash cow for it's eventual sell-off.
  
  Both Kent and Essex councils are looking at a new crossing but it is pretty obvious, regardless of the current economic situation that this will never happen.
  
  Within a few years traffic will increase even more with the opening of the Thames Gateway port and the expansion of Tilbury. The recent Spending Review retained the widening of the M25 in key locations and yet the bottleneck at Dartford will remain whilst traffic will increase.
  
  Yes, I can drive 15 additional miles in to London to use a tunnel but is that an answer to reducing congestion and emission ? Sending more people in to the already congested London area simply to drive out again is ridiculous. There is not even a sensible alternative with public transport - the train in to London to simply catch another in order to go from Essex to Kent.
  
  Would you be happy being stopped at the M11 before joining it to be charged and forced to take the A roads ?
  
  The toll is extortion, pure and simple. They know that the alternatives are not practical. Imagine a similar situation on the other side of the M25 near Heathrow. Equally busy with the M3 and M4 feeding in to the M25, already widened to improve traffic flow and still suffers from congestion.
  
  I don't choose to use the crossing, I often have to. I'm lucky enough to have reduced rate rail travel with work and will use trains whenever possible. The point is that it is not always possible and they are exploiting this without putting workable or practical alternatives in place."
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