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Anger at cost of toll changes
CAMPAIGNER James Willis is incensed by the cost of replacing the Dartford Crossing toll booths and barriers with a free-flow scheme. The Maidstone borough council-
lor – who stood as the Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Dart- ford in the 2010 general election – fought bitterly to get the scheme postponed until cost improve- ments could be made to the £367m seven-year contract with French company Sanef, signed last year. But his pleas fell on deaf ears,
with the Highways Agency scheme going ahead as planned on November 30. Cllr Willis is angry that Lon-
don’s inner city congestion charge was implemented at half the cost of Dartford’s toll-free system – yet has 36 times the number of auto- matic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. It cost £31m to set up the London congestion charge in 2003, which included 646 cameras at 178 sites, while at Dart- ford £62m has been spent on re- moval of booths, changes to road layout and installing 18 cameras. “This compares badly – even al- lowing for inflation,” said Cllr Willis. “To say this scheme is not good value for money is clearly an understatement. “Free-flow will cost four years’
tax revenue and ties motorists into this for seven to 25 years. “I urge residents and motorists
to sign the petition for this scheme to be reviewed and I suggest the toll money is temporarily removed until the third crossing situation is decided, rather than pouring
Santa’s grotto
opens at Mall SANTA has arrived at The Mall, Maidstone, to celebrate the opening of the Christmas grotto. The grotto has helped to raise
more than £200,000 for charities in the Maidstone area over the years and it is hoped this year it will raise even more money for good causes. It will be open seven days aweek
until Christmas Eve. Children can visit Santa and receive a Christmas present for £4. There is a also a post box where
children can post their letters to Santa. This year his helpers at The Mall will be Maidstone Rotary Club.
Formore local news
www.downsmail.co.uk Cllr James Willis
£367m of our money into the Thames.” CllrWilliswas involved in a suc- cessful campaign with residents to stop the Government privatising the crossing back in 2009. The free-flow scheme aims to re-
duce congestion on the busy cross- ing, which is used by up to 50 million vehicles a year and up to 170,000 vehicles a day. Motorists must now pre-pay to
use the crossing or pay by mid- night the following day. Payments can be made online, by phone, through some retail outlets or through a postal pre-pay account. The total toll income from oper-
ating the Dartford crossing for the financial year ended March 31, 2012 was £72,147,091, while the figure for the following financial year was £80,331,662. Cllr Willis added: “This huge committed spend (by recent toll revenue figures) could pay to re- move the toll for four years.”
Burglar found
in garden jailed A BURGLAR disturbed by his victim at a house in Maidstone has been jailed for eight months. Maidstone Crown Court heard
how Przemek Chojnowski (26) forced the conservatory door and smashed a kitchen window at a house in Old Tovil Road, but was disturbed by the owner. He tried to hide in the garden under a blan- ket when officers with a police dog were called, but the dog quickly found him. Chojnowski denied burglary.
He said hewas in the area visiting family and hadwandered into the garden and fallen asleep. Chojnowski, formerly of Green-
ford, Middlesex,was sentenced to eight months in prison, having previously admitted burglary with intent to steal.
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