TWENTY years after the charge to use the Dartford crossing was expected to end, motorists are still paying the toll - and that decision has been questioned by a leading Thurrock councillor.

Conservative rebel Cllr Luke Spillman is proving a real thorn in the side of party policy and leadership on local matters.

He has previously criticised officers for not serving the best interests of councillors by failing to get reports for meetings together on time.

Over the weekend he turned his wrath towards the non-elected commisioners running the council, put in place by the Conservative government.

And now the chair of the council's planning, transport and regeneration overview and scrutiny committee has criticised the government for continuing to charge motorists to use the Dartford Crossing.

The crossing, two tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge which was unveiled in 1991, connects London and Kent. The toll to use the crossing was due to end in 2003 but the government reversed its pledge in 2001 and has since milked millions per year from vehicles crossing it.

The bridge opened a few years after the completion of London's M25 orbital motorway.

Before this, all vehicles travelled through the Dartford tunnels, with the first opening in 1963 at the cost of £13million. To finance this venture, drivers were required to pay a toll of two shillings and sixpence, 12.5 pence in today's money. It now costs £2.50 and Thurrock Cllr Spillman believes there is justification for dropping the toll.

He said: "I use the Dartford crossing every working day and so fully understand how the crossing still incurs significant management and maintenance costs. However, I've never liked toll charging because it is an entirely regressive form of taxation. The cost is a flat rate irrespective of a person's ability to pay.

"At a time of high inflation, fuel and energy costs and interest rates, removing or reducing the Dart charge would have been a positive cost of living measure for many users of the crossing and so is worthy of consideration."

The Government maintains the charge helps keep vehicles numbers down but Cllr Spillman added: "I do not believe that the charge has any significant traffic reduction effect. There are insufficient alternative public transport options to travel between Essex and Kent. "Those that exist are far more costly and time consuming to be practical."

The toll has also been subject to significant administrative problems since its collection transferred to a new compnay in the summer.

There have been endless problems with new systems and process including long delays to process changes to drivers' accounts. Thurrock's local residents' discount scheme has been significantly disrupted with residents suffering wrong charges or even complete loss of their accounts.

While Cllr Spillman - and many local Thurrock residents regularly bear the brunt of problems at the crossing, politicans further afield support the toll!

For example Cllr Kevin Buck, a Southend Conservative councillor responsible for highways, transport and parking believes the toll is still justified.

He said: "When first constructed, a charge at the Dartford crossing was deemed necessary to recoup the initial cost to build it, although this was recovered some years ago.

"The Dartford crossing is a complex highway asset, with two road tunnels and a four lane bridge, all of which requires significant daily traffic and safety management and which have complex ongoing maintenance requirements."

Cllr Buck added: "All of this comes at a significant cost. There is justification in retaining the charge, in order to cover these ongoing costs and largely, the ANPR camera charging system that replaced the old toll booths works very well. Surplus income from the Dartford crossing goes in to funding other local active travel initiatives, so that all benefit from the crossing charge".