Residents in Dartford and Thurrock will get discounts on the Dartford crossing, under proposals announced by the Department for Transport. 

Local people will be able to make 50 free journeys a year, and once these have been made, the charge will be just 20p per crossing.

To benefit from the discount, residents will need to register annually and apply for an electronic tag to be displayed on their car’s windscreen.

The annual registration fee would be £10, the same local discount registration fee as the London congestion charge. The discount will be available for private cars only.

Consultation on these arrangements will begin in the next week and, subject to the outcome and the necessary technical work being completed in time, the system is expected to start in the autumn.