DARTFORD Tunnel celebrates its 50th birthday this week as business leaders call for a residents’ discount scheme to be extended to wider Essex.

The Essex branch of the Federation of Small Businesses has hit out at the Department for Transport for only extending £20 annual crossing passes to Thurrock and Dartford residents.

It’s now half a century since the tunnel officially opened on November 18, 1963, costing £13 million.

Iain Wicks, Development Manager at the Essex branch of the FSB, said: “We are supportive of increasing the boundary of the discounted scheme.

“The amount of lorries and trucks that travel into Essex daily for local purposes means it is a costing a local business a great deal of money.

“It is good Thurrock residents can benefit, but who is to say that shouldn’t include the people of Essex?

“The fact of the matter is the tolls should have gone but local businesses and local people are still being affected.”

The £20 annual pass will start next March with non-local car drivers paying £2 and light-goods vehicles paying £2.50. Back in 1963 drivers had to pay two shillings and six pence to cross the Thames by car.

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price has said Thurrock residents should be able to use the crossing for free in the past. Around 160,000 vehicles use the crossing every day.

In a statement, the Department for Transport said: "The government has looked closely and carefully considered the possibility of extending the local resident discount scheme.

"However it was felt that those communities who live in Dartford and Thurrock and who are most affected by the traffic should be the ones that benefit the most."

Roads Minister Robert Goodwill said: “The Dartford Crossing continues to bring huge benefits to the economy and with these benefits comes demand. The government is committed to doing all we can to ease traffic flow and improve journeys for the future.”