by Rachel Hovenden

rhovenden@thekmgroup.co.uk

Angry motorists expressed their concerns over plans to increase the cost of the Dartford tolls at a meeting on Friday.

The public meeting was organised by Dartford’s MP Gareth Johnson, and supported by the Messenger. It saw representatives from the Department of Transport and the Highways Agency explain the plans, and the reason why they believed there is a a need for the price increases.

The tolls are set to go up by 50p in November this year and then another 50p by April next year.

Mr Johnson said: "I say do away with the tolls in their entirety. We are fed up with the with congestion and pollution. Do away with the sorry tale we have seen over the last 40 years."

A consultation by the Department of Transport into the planned price rises is set to finish on September 23.

To join the Messenger's Fight the Hike campaign against the rises go towww.petitionbuzz.co.uk/petitions/axethetax