Dartford Crossing disposal threatens toll campaign
Stephen Metcalfe pledges to continue campaign to scrap tolls.

Stephen Metcalfe, prospective Conservative MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock has today raised concerns about the Governments proposal to dispose of assets in an attempt to raise £16bn towards the debt crisis.

The proposal is to sell a "portfolio of non-financial assets" held by Whitehall and local authorities over two years.

In the first phase the Prime Minister outlined sales, which could raise £3bn and included the Tote, the Dartford crossing and the student loan book.

Stephen Metcalfe, who has been campaigning to remove the tolls on the crossing said: “The proposed disposal of the Dartford Crossing is yet another betrayal of the residents of South Essex.”

“In a desperate attempt to correct the Governments mismanagement of the economy Mr Brown is trying to condemn the residents of Thurrock to pay the tolls forever.”

“I and the local Conservatives have campaigned to scrap the tolls as we feel that they add to congestion and are a cause of pollution, if the crossing is no longer in public ownership the chances of ditching the charge will be greatly reduced.”

He continued: “I have today spoken to Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers and lobbied her hard to make sure she understands the depth of feeling around this issue and asked that she put pressure wherever possible and on whomever possible to try to ensure that the option of scraping the tolls remains open.”

“Whichever party is in power after the next election I will continue to fight to scrap the tolls.”

Posted 12/10/09

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