WHEN is the Globe going to get its facts right over the tunnel toll increases instead of creating scare stories?

The facts are:-

Class One (£1.40) vehicles include all cars and light goods vehicles up to 3.5 ton; that includes all the sort of transit vans and low tippers used by businesses and the self-employed.

Nothing has changed from the current classifications, but you have been trying to give the impression such drivers will now have to pay £2.80. Not true!

Class 2 (£2.80) vehicles are two axle passenger buses (Arriva and First Buses) and any vehicle over 3.5 ton gross vehicle, ie big high-bodied vans and lorries. And why shouldn't buses pay more than a car? All we've done is lift the concession given the last increase three years ago.

Also includes Class 1 vehicles with trailers/caravans. Again no change in the type of vehicles in Class 2.

Class 3 (£4.20) is three axle HGVs over 3.5 ton - not local buses at all (unless they have three axles?).

Class 4 (£5.60) is four axle articulated HGVs which make up less than six per cent of our traffic.

These are cash prices by the way, much cheaper with a Fast tag.

To say small goods vehicles (ie Astra and transit vans) will be hardest hit - their toll going from £1.30 now to £2.80 - is totally incorrect. Ten pence rise only. Have you any idea the size of a 3.5 ton vehicle? How many small vans have more than nine seats and who will count them anyway?

Get your facts right about the toll rises in the first place and people might take take your campaigning seriously.

A fed-up Tunnel employee who spends his day having to correct the misinformation you are providing the public via your paper.

(name and address supplied)

2:24pm Tuesday 29th April 2008

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