A final decision on toll-pricing policy would be deferred.

The news that the Dartford Crossing toll rises planned for this month and next spring have been scrapped has been welcomed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA). However, the Association warns that the government’s final decision on the timing and scale of future rises, expected early in the New Year, must be proportionate and a serious commitment given to invest in reducing congestion for this key piece of infrastructure.

Heavy goods vehicles are currently charged £3.70 to use the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing; the proposed tolls would have seen this charge rise to £5.00 in late 2011 and £6.00 in spring 2012.  Transport Minister Mike Penning announced that due to the sheer volume of responses to its consultation, a final decision on toll-pricing policy would be deferred, meaning that the proposed rises have been scrapped for the time being.

Malcolm Bingham, FTA’s Head of Road Network Management, said: “This news will alleviate some pressure for those thousands of hard-pressed commercial vehicle operators that use this key piece of infrastructure every day. The proposed 60% hike is astronomical and comes at a time of massive fuel price pressure too. Such a hike is an especially bitter pill to swallow given that the bridge was paid off in 2003. It was after this point that the toll, which was needed to pay off the bridge's construction, should have been abandoned. Instead it was reinvented as a 'road charge' aimed at controlling congestion; although, clearly this hasn't worked.”