FTA disappointed with Dartford Toll increase

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has aired its disappointment at the latest decision to increase tolls on the Dartford River Crossing for UK motorists.

Set to come into force from October this year, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced tolls will increase for all bridge users with heavy goods vehicles seeing an increase in the tariff to £6 each way. It previously stood at £3.70.

Meanwhile, van operators using the ongoing Dart-Tag system to achieve lower payments will also be hit, with the fare increasing from £3.20 to £4.33.

Malcolm Bingham, FTA head of road network management policy, said: "We are disappointed, as we feel that the government has not taken any notice of us at all. We had asked them to peg the Dart-Tag fee.

"Any toll increase is damaging to our members, but we welcome the process of bringing in free flow tolling."

The FTA voiced its concerns when the proposal of a new charging system was first mooted by the DfT, noting: "Current levels of congestion - which we believe to a large extent result from the existing charging systems - impose significant costs on the industry and lead to increased emissions."

FTA members had hoped to see the introduction of a new free-flowing system for the carriageway utilising technology that is commonplace across other areas of Europe. However, the DfT decided the implementation of such a project would be too expensive.

Meanwhile, the FTA announced it is set to host its Logistics Carbon Reduction Conference in London on May 29th.

The event is being sponsored by Bridgestone Tyres and will see a number of important issues for van operators being discussed, including the management of drivers and reductions in mileage, as well as the impact of climate change on the EU's agenda for the industry.

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