The Dartford Crossing charge set to increase by one pound.

KentOnline / KMTV

From September the charge to cross the Dartford crossing will increase from £2.50 to £3.50.  Locals and small businesses are worried the effects this may have on the town.  Etholle Reynolds reports.

Transcript

00:00The Dartford crossing sees over 5 million vehicles per year. Currently it's the only way to cross the

00:06Thames east of London by road and it links the M25 in Essex and Kent. But now the price to cross

00:14is going up. From September the charge will increase from £2.50 to £3.50. This is the

00:21first time it's gone up in 11 years. Despite only being a £1 increase many locals are worried and

00:28angry about what this means for them. I think it'll make a big impact. I mean as it is we're

00:34struggling in Dartford I think people won't come into Dartford as much as they were. I suppose it's

00:41more strain on people that are working. I know if you live in the borough of Dartford you get some

00:45kind of discount. But if you're on the surrounding areas it's going to cost you a lot more to and

00:50from work. So that pound each way times that times five twice a day it all adds up so it's more.

00:58It's affecting everyone. Increasingly. If someone passing through their like whole week six days

01:04you have to increase six pounds every week. If you're counting this one as monthly, yearly, how much is going up?

01:10We've paid for it really. Over years and years and years. I feel it's disgusting.

01:17Many feel the town is already struggling and the increase will just make things worse. It's not just

01:22the locals that will also be affected by this charge. Many small businesses who operate stalls

01:28at the Dartford market will also see the effects of the increase. Some of the small businesses have

01:34raised concerns about what this new charge might mean for foot traffic. It could affect us all. It

01:40could affect our customers that we have come in continuously. It may stop them coming and it may

01:46stop new people wanting to come because of the charge. There's lots of reasons that it could affect

01:52business and our clientele. Whereas some others believe it may not affect their business that much.

01:57You add, you know, at the end of the month, you know, two pounds, like we come on Saturday and Thursday,

02:05then it's over 10 pounds. It doesn't affect so much, but what we can do. Until September,

02:13the effect of the increase is only speculation. However, many locals and small businesses have been left

02:20concerned. Etterley Reynolds for KMTV in Dartford.

Category

Transcript

Recommended