THURROCK residents’ discount for the Dartford crossing is safe, according to the borough’s MP.

Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price met with roads minister Mike Penning and said he assured her that the discount, which the Department For Transport was consulting on, will not be scrapped.

The MP arranged the meeting after carrying out a survey on congestion around the crossing with major employers in the area and logistics businesses.

All of the businesses surveyed said that congestion costs them, and more than 80 per cent called for an additional crossing to reduce congestion.

Ms Doyle-Price said: ”We had a very constructive discussion about the findings and the Government’s plans for tackling these problems.

“The Minister confirmed the intention to remove the toll barriers by the end of 2012. This is a very significant engineering project if the benefits of removal of the barriers is to be maximised, and will cost in the region of £100m.

“The costs will be met by the revenue from the tolls.

“The Minister also confirmed that the residents discount will stay and there will be no increase in price. However he reiterated that take-up is poor and we explored how we might improve it.”

The residents’ discount is 90 per cent and means that car drivers who live in Thurrock can use the crossing for 20 pence.

Congestion at junction 30/31 of the M25 was also discussed, and Ms Doyle-Price was told that an interim solution to ease congestion is being sought.

She said: “ The Minister is to instruct the Highways Agency to assess what interim improvements can be made to tackle congestion. I am very pleased that work will be done to improve the situation until a more long term solution can be agreed upon. Congestion at Junction 30 is causing us real problems here in Thurrock and the situation needs to be urgently addressed.”

She added: “There are still a lot of issues to sort out but I am satisfied now that the Government is listening. Although the crossing and the M25 are part of our national infrastructure, the impact of congestion is felt locally and I will continue to pressure Ministers so that the impact on the local road network here in Thurrock is properly considered.”