Representation by Kent & Medway Economic Partnership (Kent & Medway Economic Partnership)
- Date submitted
- 14 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The Kent & Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP) is made up of Kent & Medway’s 14 Local Authority leaders, 17 business representatives and representatives from higher and further education. KMEP drives forward and monitors strategic economic plans for Kent and Medway. KMEP strongly agrees that the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) is needed and supports it for the reasons below: (Please note however that 2 District Councils in Kent (Swale and Gravesham) do have a different viewpoint and will be submitting separate representations). 1. Unpredictable journey times on the Dartford crossing result in lower productivity for businesses and commuters. An alternative route will provide resilience for local infrastructure particularly when incidents close the existing crossing. 2. Businesses will benefit – new markets and supply chains could be created. Skilled employees would also be able to easily cross the river, reducing a current recruitment barrier. Additionally, we hope that local firms will be able to bid for contracts during the construction phase as well as future maintenance, thus providing additional local employment opportunities. 3. Weakness of current infrastructure – the Dartford crossing has been functioning significantly in excess of its design capacity and experiences frequent and severe congestion which will only worsen without an additional crossing. It is also an accident hotspot. 4. Local Economic Growth Opportunities are being stymied by congestion resulting from incidents at the current crossing. Accelerated housing growth and increased vehicle numbers in Kent means that swift intervention is needed to avoid congestion deteriorating further. 5. Wider economic impact - the current crossing is a nationally important section of road infrastructure with HGVs travelling from the Port of Dover (the UK’s busiest ro-ro port) and the Channel Tunnel via Dartford to the Midlands and North. Reduced travel times will benefit the national economy. However, KMEP requires that further resilience to be built into the wider Kent (and South Essex) transport networks to prevent congestion being pushed to the next weakest point and effectively cutting off access to coastal communities in particular. The investment, planning, and construction of infrastructure should be made concurrently, rather than at a later period. While current schemes such as the M2 Junction 5 improvements and the Levelling Up Funding for improvements at Dover port will build additional resilience into Kent’s wider road network, further improvements and bifurcation of Channel traffic are essential to achieve the full the benefits of the LTC including: 1. Improvements to the M2 / A2 corridor: • Upgrading M2 Junction 7 at Brenley Corner (a Road Investment Strategy (RIS) 3 2025-30 ‘pipeline’ project) • Dualling the A2 single carriageway from Lydden to Dover (A2 Dover Access, a RIS3 2025-30 ‘pipeline’ project) • Widening the 2 lane stretches of the M2 (junctions 4 to 7). 2. Improved linkages between the M20 and M2: • Upgrading the A229 with accompanied improvements to M2 junction 3 and M20 junction 6 to allow free flow between the two motorways without impeding local traffic (this is a Kent County Council-led project bidding to DfT for Large Local Major scheme funding that would require a contribution from the LTC to offset its impact). • Upgrading the A260 from Lydden to Hawkinge – the most easterly rung in the ladder between the M20/A20 and M2/A2 3. Permanent off-road lorry park provision and improved technology solutions at the Channel ports to eliminate the need for Operation Brock, ensuring the free flow of UK-EU traffic and tackling inappropriate lorry parking across Kent. KMEP also requests that National Highways protect existing businesses and communities from any negative impacts that may be brought by the LTC’s construction by ensuring that: 1. Adequate measures are put in place to prevent inappropriate use of local roads (A227, A228 and A2 from Medway to Faversham) which are designed to serve local communities. Long-distance traffic must remain on the Strategic Road Network. 2. Working positively with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure the most appropriate environmental, air and noise mitigation measures are put into effect. Finally, KMEP would encourage sustainable and active travel options to be considered within the scheme – could there be opportunities for non-motorised users and public transport to make use of the new crossing?