Kamis, 30 Juni 2011

Toll too far

Dartford Tolls

Another day goes by and another Conservative promise broken. First it was train fares, then the Estuary Airport proposal [which is still being considered], and now the transport triple whammy; the Dartford Toll.

Motorists in Medway are currently being hit. Not only has the Tory increase to VAT led to a hike in the price of fuel,but this year will see the charge to use the Dartford Crossing increase to £2 and then go up further to £2.50 in 2012. This increase will hit thousands of motorists and businesses which use the Dartford Crossing daily.

We all know Conservative PPCs jumped on a number of bandwagons before the General Election, but to the extent that nearly every campaign on transport has resulted in the exact opposite once in government simply beggars belief. It has been one u-turn after another.

Convenient also that the Dartford Toll announcement came on the same day that strikes were dominating the local media.

Tory CCHQ has learnt a few things on media managemet.

A few constituents will be interested to read what Tracey Crouch MP said about the Dartford Toll before her election, and given this was a major campaign issue I hope that the MP stands up with some vigour and tone, against this toll increase; after all in her own words and on multiple occassions

Breaking News is Bad for Kent Commuters - Sunday 11th October 2009
Scrap Dartford Toll Crossing Charges - Monday 15th December 2008

The very major fear of Medway residents is that we now have a Conservative government hell-bent on tolls and local Medway Conservative Councillors saddled with huge costs for the Medway Tunnel, with a miserely contribution from the Rochester Bridge Trust

We all know Tories will be looking at the potential for a toll on the Medway Tunnel and the fear is that with Cllr Jarrett citing 'other income sources' that this issue is on the table

How long before the Tories introduce a toll on the Medway Tunnel because of the botched purchase?

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