and it's upcoming new charging system:
Seems like more spin but with a hidden agenda, gone will paying at the booths which seems to have worked just fine for like ever and in with a new 'sign up, give us your details and lets see who is who' oh, and btw if you're late paying look forward to a fine of over £100. (similar to the congestion charge is that)
At the same time as this they're putting up the price to a car by around 50p so not only have motorists contributed to the paying of the building/maintaining of the crossing over the years it looks like they're going to have to pay a bit more again for the new changes coming.
No thanks, I'll travel the other way around the M25 if I'm off on a continental holibobs
Each and every day the Govt seems to bite more into our lives with their snooping,the old system worked fine on the crossing, for sure it was congested occasionally but that isn't because of the payment system but more just the general usage of it.
Best way would be for nobody to pay to cross, that would soon give them some problems re collection.
Of course this is just the start for road charging schemes in the UK
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More rubbish from thr Govt - Dartford Crossing
I have heard a fair bit about this on the news on the radio when im in the car Toots - I use it rarely but id be more than happy to travel the other way round that car park they call the M25 if it means avoiding the signing up thing.
I love throwing my into the bucket at the booth, the family find it a bit of a laugh, and a few mins congestion at the crossing doesnt bother me whatsoever.
If it aint broke dont try and fix it is my motto ;)
I love throwing my into the bucket at the booth, the family find it a bit of a laugh, and a few mins congestion at the crossing doesnt bother me whatsoever.
If it aint broke dont try and fix it is my motto ;)
Sexlightened
So, this will be introduced in two weeks time and it's the first I've heard about it - the Government have obviously done another excellent job in informing everyone about it. I guess you only know about it if you live locally - lots of people will turn up on 30th Nov and find they have to quickly phone up and pay or risk a nice fine. A good way for the Government to raise some cash with all those £100 fines?
I only use the bridge a few times a year when I go down to see my Parents but it's going to be a real pain remembering to pay in advance, or rushing to get on-line before I forget when I get to my folks. I'll definitely think about going the other way round the M25.
If it reduces the queues at the bridge it might be a good thing (I've been caught in some horrendous jams on a Friday night) but it would be far better to do away with the toll all together - it must have made billions by now, but it's now seen as just another way of taxing us.
I live near the M6 Toll but, like most other people, I hardly ever use it as it costs £11 for a return trip. FFS!! Because it doesn't get used that much they put the price up (originally it was about £2 each way) and, as a result, even less people use it! Meanwhile the 'free' M6 has big traffic jams which cost industry (and the country) millions. Those in power are too stupid, and too interested in taxing us, to realise that reducing the price would get the traffic flowing.
Rant over - am off to take some more pills. :fuckinghell:
I only use the bridge a few times a year when I go down to see my Parents but it's going to be a real pain remembering to pay in advance, or rushing to get on-line before I forget when I get to my folks. I'll definitely think about going the other way round the M25.
If it reduces the queues at the bridge it might be a good thing (I've been caught in some horrendous jams on a Friday night) but it would be far better to do away with the toll all together - it must have made billions by now, but it's now seen as just another way of taxing us.
I live near the M6 Toll but, like most other people, I hardly ever use it as it costs £11 for a return trip. FFS!! Because it doesn't get used that much they put the price up (originally it was about £2 each way) and, as a result, even less people use it! Meanwhile the 'free' M6 has big traffic jams which cost industry (and the country) millions. Those in power are too stupid, and too interested in taxing us, to realise that reducing the price would get the traffic flowing.
Rant over - am off to take some more pills. :fuckinghell:
Mod
oh something else to get used to. I used to like the congestion on Queen Elizabeth Bridge when returning home from an Essex weekend. I could chill and enjoy the view before I headed onward. 
Sex God
On 31 July 1988, a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) concession was enabled under the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988, which transferred control of the crossing from Kent and Essex county councils to Dartford River Crossing Limited, a private company managed by Rodney Jones.
The concession was scheduled for 20 years from the transfer date, with a stipulation that it could end when debts had been paid off, which was agreed to have been achieved on 31 March 2002.
It was anticipated that the tolls would be removed on 1 April 2003 under the original PFI scheme contract
:thumbup:
Under the 2000 Transport Act, the A282 Trunk Road (Dartford-Thurrock Crossing charging scheme) Order 2002 allowed the continuation of the crossing fee, which officially became a charge and not a toll on 1 April 2003.
:upset:
Following the 2010 Election,David Cameron announced that the crossing might be sold, despite local opposition. Subsequently, George Osborne announced that tolls would be increased instead to cover the budget deficit.
:eeek:
2012, local businesses were complaining that the crossing's toll booths were impeding local growth. The government announced that a new electronic charging system would be introduced in 2014. Drivers would be able to pay by phone, text, online or in shops which would increase to
:arrow: for cars,
:arrow: £3 for 2-axle goods vehicles, and
:arrow: £6 for multi-axle vehicles.
drivers evading the toll could be fined as much as £105.
:small-print:
In September, the Highways Agency announced that the new scheme would start to operate on 30 November, though related works to remove barriers would continue until April 2015.
The total income for the financial year ended 31 March 2012 was £72,147,091, while the corresponding figure for 20132 was £80,331,662 - The total cost of construction was £120 million.
Welcome to the Tory 'cash cow'
Vehicles currently legally exempt from paying the crossing charge will continue to be exempt. This includes vehicles exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty because they are used by or for disabled person(s).
:thumbup:
On the plus side, there will no doubt be a plethora of CCTV cameras to monitor number plates for checking payment, so no doubt they'll be used to identify those who haven't paid VED aka Road Tax, un-insured, and no-MOT much like ANPR cameras do elsewhere.
Compare this with Scotland where the Erskine Bridge, Forth Road Bridge, and Tay Bridge where tolls were abolished on those bridges on 11 February 2008.
:high-smile:
Granted the 'tax' to enter Wales continues on the Severn Bridge(s), from January 2014, the toll is for a car, increasing to for HGVs. Ownership of both bridges will return to the UK government when the revenue required to build and maintain them, has been collected, expected to end in 2017. Any one's guess after that, though pretty sure George Osborne will want it to cover the increasing budget deficit.
:violin:
The concession was scheduled for 20 years from the transfer date, with a stipulation that it could end when debts had been paid off, which was agreed to have been achieved on 31 March 2002.
It was anticipated that the tolls would be removed on 1 April 2003 under the original PFI scheme contract
:thumbup:
Under the 2000 Transport Act, the A282 Trunk Road (Dartford-Thurrock Crossing charging scheme) Order 2002 allowed the continuation of the crossing fee, which officially became a charge and not a toll on 1 April 2003.
:upset:
Following the 2010 Election,David Cameron announced that the crossing might be sold, despite local opposition. Subsequently, George Osborne announced that tolls would be increased instead to cover the budget deficit.
:eeek:
2012, local businesses were complaining that the crossing's toll booths were impeding local growth. The government announced that a new electronic charging system would be introduced in 2014. Drivers would be able to pay by phone, text, online or in shops which would increase to
:arrow: for cars,
:arrow: £3 for 2-axle goods vehicles, and
:arrow: £6 for multi-axle vehicles.
drivers evading the toll could be fined as much as £105.
:small-print:
In September, the Highways Agency announced that the new scheme would start to operate on 30 November, though related works to remove barriers would continue until April 2015.
The total income for the financial year ended 31 March 2012 was £72,147,091, while the corresponding figure for 20132 was £80,331,662 - The total cost of construction was £120 million.
Welcome to the Tory 'cash cow'
Vehicles currently legally exempt from paying the crossing charge will continue to be exempt. This includes vehicles exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty because they are used by or for disabled person(s).
:thumbup:
On the plus side, there will no doubt be a plethora of CCTV cameras to monitor number plates for checking payment, so no doubt they'll be used to identify those who haven't paid VED aka Road Tax, un-insured, and no-MOT much like ANPR cameras do elsewhere.
Compare this with Scotland where the Erskine Bridge, Forth Road Bridge, and Tay Bridge where tolls were abolished on those bridges on 11 February 2008.
:high-smile:
Granted the 'tax' to enter Wales continues on the Severn Bridge(s), from January 2014, the toll is for a car, increasing to for HGVs. Ownership of both bridges will return to the UK government when the revenue required to build and maintain them, has been collected, expected to end in 2017. Any one's guess after that, though pretty sure George Osborne will want it to cover the increasing budget deficit.
:violin:
Sexlightened
Thanks for the information HnS.
I didn't realise how much of a cash cow it had become. I wouldn't mind so much if the massive profit was used to maintain the roads, build some new hospitals, etc. Instead it gets used to repair the damage caused by all those Bankers in their nice offices in the City.
Once thing's for sure, whichever flavour of Government we have after next May they will be keeping the 'Charge'.
I didn't realise how much of a cash cow it had become. I wouldn't mind so much if the massive profit was used to maintain the roads, build some new hospitals, etc. Instead it gets used to repair the damage caused by all those Bankers in their nice offices in the City.
Once thing's for sure, whichever flavour of Government we have after next May they will be keeping the 'Charge'.
Sex God
Quote by GnV
Good to see it's a French company who have won the contract to collect the money....
:doh:
Quote by Toots
and it's upcoming new charging system:
Seems like more spin but with a hidden agenda, gone will paying at the booths which seems to have worked just fine for like ever
That's the problem, the booths cause the problems. It was fine when the toll was £1, pop a quid in the bucket and away you go. Then it went up to so the machine had to take longer to count the money. That's why I go through the manned booths as humans count the money quicker than the machine so less queues. Remove the barriers and the traffic will (or in theory should) disappear.
The queues on a Friday are horrendous, Friday for example was all the way back to J29 (A127) which is about 10 miles. The tunnel was unusually empty due to the M25 being down to one lane at Chertsey.
I'll report back in a couple of weeks when the barriers are gone!
Sexpert
We the Tax parer have paid for the crossing, pitty there is no way of having a machine that recognises UK registration plates and allow them through but stops foreign registration plates and makes them pay a toll. Probably some EU directive against that but wouldn't that give the British lorry driver a help against the foreign drivers and there cheap fuel?
Quote by herts_darlings1
We the Tax parer have paid for the crossing, pitty there is no way of having a machine that recognises UK registration plates and allow them through but stops foreign registration plates and makes them pay a toll. Probably some EU directive against that but wouldn't that give the British lorry driver a help against the foreign drivers and there cheap fuel?
Its not taxpayers its road users, big difference.
And why shouldn't they charge? The problem is wanting something for nothing, profit shouldnt be a dirty word in this country, but time and time again its used against companies.
Sexpert
Quote by Rogue_Trader
We the Tax parer have paid for the crossing, pitty there is no way of having a machine that recognises UK registration plates and allow them through but stops foreign registration plates and makes them pay a toll. Probably some EU directive against that but wouldn't that give the British lorry driver a help against the foreign drivers and there cheap fuel?
Its not taxpayers its road users, big difference.
And why shouldn't they charge? The problem is wanting something for nothing, profit shouldnt be a dirty word in this country, but time and time again its used against companies.
It is a tax, just like a television license is a tax. No problem with profit, just I, along with others remember that once it was paid for it would be free. So promises were made that will not be honoured, what a suprise.
Sex God
Quote by herts_darlings1
It is a tax, just like a television license is a tax. No problem with profit, just I, along with others remember that once it was paid for it would be free. So promises were made that will not be honoured, what a suprise.
Quote by HnS
It was anticipated that the tolls would be removed on 1 April 2003 under the original PFI scheme contract
Quote by HnS
Subsequently, George Osborne announced that tolls would be increased instead to cover the budget deficit.
Given the deficit as actually getting bigger and the 'tax' to enter Wales continues on the Severn Bridge(s) is for a car, increasing to for HGVs, take it George will be increasing the Dartford Tolls in due course so that 'we are all in it together'
Quote by herts_darlings1
It is a tax, just like a television license is a tax. No problem with profit, just I, along with others remember that once it was paid for it would be free. So promises were made that will not be honoured, what a suprise.
It's not a tax, it's a charge! You have a choice to use it and be charged or not use it! More roads should be subject to charges.
Sexlightened
Quote by nellie-mwgc
I don't mind paying it when i travel that way and I don't mind how they ask me to pay, if i want to travel that way I have to pay ... plain and simple
I don't understand your thinking.
It's a road, like any other. It just happens to be supported by a bridge, which was paid for many years ago.
We don't pay for our other roads (yet), so why should we have to pay for this one??
Sex God
Quote by Rogue_Trader
It is a tax, just like a television license is a tax. No problem with profit, just I, along with others remember that once it was paid for it would be free. So promises were made that will not be honoured, what a suprise.
It's not a tax, it's a charge! You have a choice to use it and be charged or not use it! More roads should be subject to charges.
its an interesting line of thought to say the least steve
fuel duty and road fund licence should cover our right to use any road
should the public vote with its steering wheel, they would simply start to charge for the use of the Blackwell tunnel or the woolwich ferry
I'm all for a levy on motorways and bridges but in my own little world i already pay for more than i use, the decision to go back on a pledge or two over the bridge charging system makes the whole thing a bit of a farce.
Sexpert
Quote by Rogue_Trader
It is a tax, just like a television license is a tax. No problem with profit, just I, along with others remember that once it was paid for it would be free. So promises were made that will not be honoured, what a suprise.
It's not a tax, it's a charge! You have a choice to use it and be charged or not use it! More roads should be subject to charges.
I might be wrong but the revenue from the "charge" goes into the the treasury pot along with income tax, the road fund license, fuel duty, duty on alcohol and tobacco and countless other ways that money is raised for the exchequer. No problem with that. But to be fair, if it looks like a tax and smells like a tax, it's a tax!
We seem to be behind the 8 ball in Britain when it comes to toll roads. If private companies invest in major civil construction projects then they are right to reap the rewards of there investment and I am a little bemused that so many people are so against it! It is not necessarily the governments job to build new roads. After all the canal system and the rail network were built with private money investing in the future. However the idea was that when the Dartford crossing was paid for, it would then be free to use. No amount of protest will change the governments mind about raising the charges on the crossing and I can see the argument that previous governments made promises that can not be kept today and they were irresponsible to make these promises that they were never going to have to implement.
What the current political class seem not to grasp is that all we want them to say is "we are in the brown sticky stuff up to our ears! we are trying to spread the pain but we need the money!"
On a personnel note, I will be sorry to see the booths go for an entirely different reason. I know it can be a pain sitting and waiting and a lot of bumps take place but it does thin the traffic down and slows it which when you go through the tunnel is not a bad thing.
Quote by gustavv
I don't mind paying it when i travel that way and I don't mind how they ask me to pay, if i want to travel that way I have to pay ... plain and simple
I don't understand your thinking.
It's a road, like any other. It just happens to be supported by a bridge, which was paid for many years ago.
We don't pay for our other roads (yet), so why should we have to pay for this one??
Well my thinking is that it's there and in order to use it i have to pay, so when i use it i do pay !
It doesn't bother me and i don't get all het up about it as that's the way it is.
The same as a few other roads and bridges charge for me to use, i pay there too if i want to use them. If i don't want to pay then i wouldn't use them !
