Bexley Drivers Lose Out on Discount Scheme
The Leader of the London Borough of Bexley, Cllr
Ian Clement, has expressed
his anger at the decision by the Department of Transport not to offer a discount
on the Dartford Crossing to any Bexley residents.
Residents in neighbouring Dartford are set to be given discounts of nearly
90%, while Bexley residents will be forced to pay the new toll of £1.50
per car each way, a staggering 50% increase!
Cllr Clement fumed: "Yet again we find Bexley residents being treated
as second class citizens by the government. Because of the serious lack of public
transport options in our borough, people are forced into using cars. They are
then being penalised for this!
"Thousands of our residents need to cross the river daily, as well as
many people coming here to work. The Dartford River Crossing is the nearest crossing
point to most areas of Bexley. It is simply not acceptable for people who live
or work here to pay such high tolls to cross the river while residents of neighbouring
Dartford will receive a massive discount. This conscious decision to ignore our
pleas for help is shocking.
"The decision will openly rob some of the most isolated and deprived
communities in the Thames Gateway area of better job prospects. The London Borough
of Bexley is working hard to improve the quality of lives for people living,
working and investing here. This is made so much more difficult by such ludicrous
decisions. This really is a case of double standards at their worst."
