Lude Generation

Toll booths close;
People made redundant
No cash processing costs
No toll booth, automated barrier or cash taking machine maintenance
Extra revenue from fines when people forget to pay by midnight the day after

The only negative is the loss of revenue from foreign registered vehicles (that now won't bother paying)...


Crossing charges go up by 20% as a result

Yep, rubbish.

We were eventually sent a bill for our Norwegian tolls. All done on ANPR and no suggestion of a fine. There's no reason why this couldn't work in the same way - except that there are far, far more vehicles. Even if they had cash-baskets and you'd lose out if you didn't have the exact money, it would make more sense than what they're trying to do now.

I've just read that the crossing is already paid for - and has enough money for years of future maintenance. That means that the original reason for the toll has disappeared.

As neither Essex nor Kent gets a penny from the fees, the money instead going straight to the treasury, it's nothing more than a general tax. Why do we put up with it?