Drivers have been warned of new tax costs coming in September as the Dartford Crossing increases its charges for the first time in 11 years.
The move sees the Dartford Crossing charge rise by up to 40 per cent from September 1, signalling a huge blow to thousands of drivers who rely on the route daily.
The new fees have sparked outrage from local leaders who have branded the crossing changes "effectively another tax".
The toll for cars without a pre-pay account will jump from £2.50 to £3.50 per crossing, marking an increase of £1 that has prompted fierce criticism from Kent County Council.
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Drivers previously needed to pay at least £2.50 to use the Dartford Crossing
PAThe price hike, announced by Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood last month, marks the first increase since 2014 and affects all vehicle types using the vital Thames crossing.
With more than 150,000 vehicles using the crossing daily, the impact will be felt by thousands of commuters, businesses and families who rely on this sole fixed road link east of London.
Kent County Council's newly elected leader, Linden Kemkaran, has written a strongly worded letter to the Transport Minister, condemning the increase as an unfair burden on residents and businesses.
In her letter, Kemkaran argued that Kent residents "have no viable alternative when using this important route" and warned that the rise would be "a constraint on the local and national economy".
The Dartford Crossing carries around 150,000 vehicles daily PA
"Our residents still remember that the toll was meant to end when the infrastructure was paid for, but changes in policy mean the charge has continued indefinitely. Effectively another tax for making journeys to work, visiting friends and family, and spending hard-earned money at local resorts and attractions," she wrote.
The council leader emphasised that driving through Greater London would incur additional charges, including the Ulez and even higher tolls at the Blackwall or Silvertown tunnels.
Under the new pricing structure, car drivers with pre-pay accounts will pay £2.80 per crossing, while those without accounts face the full £3.50 charge.
Motorcycles will continue to cross free of charge, while larger vehicles face proportionally higher increases, with buses and vans with two axles paying £4.20 for one-off crossings or £3.60 with an account.
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Heavy goods vehicles with multiple axles will see charges rise to the largest amount of £8.40 for single crossings or £7.20 for account holders.
Local residents in Dartford and Thurrock who sign up for the discount scheme will pay £25 annually for unlimited crossings, a modest increase from the current rate. Meanwhile, the overnight period between 10pm and 6am will remain toll-free, as will the bicycle pick-up service.
The Government has defended the increase as necessary to manage growing demand at the crossing, which now handles traffic levels "well in excess of the crossing's design capacity".
Greenwood said current charging levels were "no longer sufficient" to manage traffic effectively. She pointed to a 7.5 per cent growth in demand over the past 11 years, with up to 180,000 vehicles using the crossing on the busiest days.
The crossing will increase its fees on September 1
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The Minister acknowledged the changes would be "unwelcome news for users" but insisted they were needed to prevent delays and congestion on the M25.
She also noted the new charges would be "significantly lower than if they had increased in line with inflation since the tariff was last fully revised in 2014".
Kemkaran highlighted that the crossing generated substantial profits yearly, with it "clearly not on the cusp of losing money". She argued that the increase would "only suppress the journeys for the very poorest in our society".
The council leader proposed that Kent should receive a proportion of the toll revenue to maintain its road network, given the county's role as "the Gateway County", handling significant foreign and domestic traffic.