Notice of consultation

Department for Transport
Transport Act 2000

The A282 Trunk Road (Dartford -Thurrock Crossing Charging Scheme) Order 2007

The Secretary of State for Transport gives notice that he proposes to make an Order under sections 167, 168, 171 and 172(2) of the Transport Act 2000, which will replace the existing charging regime at the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing.

The length of highway becoming subject to the charging regime is a length of the A282 Trunk Road of approximately 3.5 kilometres from a point below the north face of the bridge carrying Crossways Boulevard over the Trunk Road at Junction 1a at Dartford in the County of Kent, and extending northwards to a point approximately 300 metres north of where it crosses London Road at West Thurrock in the County of Essex, the highway being carried through twin tunnels beneath the River Thames and on the Queen Elizabeth II bridge over the River Thames.

The proposed charging regime sets charges for cash payment and discounts for those who pay by a Dart-Tag and pre-pay account:

	Cash Charge		Tag Charge
	Day charges (6am - 10pm)	Night charges (10pm - 6am)	Day charges (6am - 10pm)	Night charges (10pm - 6am)
Cars	£1.50	Free	£1.00	Free
2 Axle Goods	£2.00	Free	£1.75	Free
Multi Axle Goods	£4.00	Free	£3.20	Free

The Order authorises the exemption from the charging regime of certain motor vehicles as set out in Schedule 4 to the Order and enables variations to be made to the regime in line with the retail price index.

It is proposed that the Order shall come into force on 1 January 2008 and will remain in force indefinitely.

Copies of the following documents:

• This notice
• The draft Order: The A282 Trunk Road (Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Charging Scheme) Order 2007
• Map of the location to which the Order relates
• A consultation document setting out the Secretary of State's reasons for proposing to Order

may be inspected free of charge at all reasonable hours from 14 December 2006 until 9 March 2007, at the following locations:

Dartford Borough Council 
Civic Centre
Home Gardens
Dartford
DA1 1DR

Thurrock Council
Civic Offices
New Road
Grays
RM17 6SL

These documents can also be found at the website: www.dft.gov.uk/roads/dartfordconsultation

Any person may object to or make representations about the making of the Order not later than 9 March 2007 by writing to the Secretary of State c/o Julian Smith, Dartford Consultation, Zone 3/05, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR or by Email to him at dartford.consultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk and stating the grounds of objection. In the preparation of an objection and the statement of grounds of objection it should be borne in mind that the substance of any objection or representation may be communicated to other people who may be affected by it.

14 December 2006

Martin Jones, Department for Transport
Adam Simmons, Department for Transport
Peter Evans, Highways Agency