A PROPOSAL to lift the tolls at the Dartford Crossing — at least for the Olympics — has been turned down by the government.
But Mike Penning MP, Under Secretary of State for Transport and a former prospective Parliamentary candidate for Thurrock has told council Leader, Cllr John Kent he is thinking about it.
In February Cllr Kent wrote to Mr Penning suggesting: “Surely the Olympics is the perfect time to lift the tolls, giving us a congestion-free Games and a chance to analyse how the tolls impact on congestion.”
However Mr Penning’s reply states “We are carefully considering the operation of the Dartford Crossing during the Games, and we will continue to consider any extra measures that might help keep traffic at the dartford Crossing flowing.”
Cllr Kent’s earlier letter appealed to Mr Pemnning’s local knowledge of the issues around the crossing, saying: “As you will know, here in Thurrock we suffer from major traffic congestion issues, especially when there are problems around the Dartford Crossing.
“We fear not only that this may happen and possibly worsen during the Olympic Games, but what affect this could have on our national reputation.”
Cllr Kent also explained he had received letters from local business-people concerned “about the impact congestion will have on them and the Games”.
He said the council has consistently argued for changes to the tolls and Junction 30/31 because “the impact of congestion here has massive repercussions on local, national and international businesses”.
Mr Penning’s reply also says: “We are not expecting significant increases in traffic at the crossing, in large part due to the strong emphasis the transport strateg7y for the 2012 Games places on the use of public transport.”
His letter mentions park-and-ride facilities at Lakeside and Ebbsfleet “which should help reduce any extra pressures on Dartford”, and “the Olympic and Paralympic Route Networks”.
On Tuesday (6 March) Cllr Kent said: “I am disappointed the government and especially Mike Penning haven’t listened to what we are saying. I know it’s in the summer and I know it’s one of the quieter times for the crossing, but we all know that if there’s one shunt on the bridge or in a tunnel, chaos will ensure.
“There are concerns about how London’s public transport will handle the Olympics, I simply thought that opening the tolls would be one less thing for us as a country or for Mr Penning’s government to worry about. Apparently not and I hope they’re right about that.”
But I’m sure Cllr Kent wasn’t really surprised about the decision.
Don’t forget——– ‘Money is God!’
What isn’t mentioned is the traffic chaos that is going to be caused with the special Olympic only lanes on the M25 and A13. Perhaps one of our politicians can explain to residents what impact closing lanes on the A13 nad M25 for Olympic traffic only will efect everyone else who has to use these roads to get to and from work?
There is going to be organised chaos, it doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, that QE2 bridge and tunnels are motorway bedlam, since christmas they have shut ten toll booths and one of the tunnels, by 20:00hrs every night during the week, that means that all the traffic lorries and cars are squeezed through the middle booths, causing tail backs to the A2, I was informed by a friend who works for the company who operates the tolls, he said they are not working on the Tunnel that is closed, they are saving money by closing the booths early, its a great pity that they don’t let us go through for nothing, when we are inconvenienced by there money saving measures, the Olympics are going to have a terrible impact on Thurrock and all the surrounding areas, we cant drive around the problems, because all of our roads travel through the Olympic games areas, the traffic in London is going to be at a stand still for hours, it is every weekday mornings and evenings because of the traffic flowing towards the A13 and A127 the A2 is always blocked until 20:30hrs every night, can you imagine what will happen when Stratford and Hackney areas become blocked, I think I will stay at home during the Olympics.