A LOW-key announcement by the government on reducing tolls for a river crossing in Kent has been met with anger here.

While car and van drivers crossing the Severn have to fork out £6.20 and £12.40 respectively, locals using the Dartford crossing between Kent and Essex will pay just 5p per trip.

From next March people registered with the Dartford Crossings' local residents discount scheme will pay just £20 a year, allowing unlimited crossings.

Announcing the extension to the residents' scheme, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "Local businessmen and women use the Dartford crossing regularly to make deliveries into Essex and Kent. They are the backbone of British industry and that is why I am keen to find new ways we can make their lives cheaper and easier.

"At a cost of just over 5p a day we will help thousands of small businesses keep their costs down as well as saving money for those who currently belong to the residents' discount scheme."

From October next year barriers will be removed on the Dartford Crossing with people able to pay before they cross online, by phone or at certain service areas to improve traffic flows on the M25 – long queues at the Severn tolls are a regular feature at peak times.

The announcement on a government website was picked up by Tidenham parish councillor Lance Allen who reckons it highlights the fact that drivers using the Severn bridges are getting a rough deal.

He said: "This really is just twisting the knife. When is the government going to make similar provision for other crossings?"

The Dartford Crossing is managed by Connect M25, a private consortium, on behalf of the Highways Agency.

Despite much public disquiet about the situation on the Severn Crossings the reason given for the lack of change is that tolls are set by an Act of Parliament and any other changes would need to be agreed in the House of Commons.

Cllr Allen said he has written, as a private individual to Forest MP Mark Harper with copies to Monmouth MP David Davies and the leaders of the Forest of Dean district and Monmouthshire County councils.