A new Thames crossing in Kent won’t solve anything – say Protect Kent
Published: 21-04-2009
This week, the Government have unveiled plans for a new Thames crossing in Kent to improve the growing problem of congestion and safety on the existing Dartford Crossing.
The three proposed sites for the new crossing are: between the Swanscombe Peninsula and the A1089, from east Tilbury in Essex to the east of Gravesend to the M20 or at the site of the existing crossing.
Protect Kent views the possibility of a new Thames crossing with great concern. There can be no doubt that a new crossing will lead to an increase in traffic crossing the river and possibly in the long term, generate more traffic than it can cope with.
Protect Kent fully accept the need for something to be done about the congestion at the Dartford crossing. However, we firmly believe the Government should be focusing on improved traffic management at the existing crossings, rather than considering a proposal to build another environmentally and economically damaging crossing.
Protect Kent encourages people to consider sustainable alternatives wherever they can. We campaign heavily to encourage people to take measures such as buying local produce, to reduce the number of lorries on the roads transporting food into Kent. Sensible measures like this will in the long term help the congestion on Kent’s roads in the future whilst also benefitting local suppliers and farmers.
It is Protect Kent’s view that a barrier-free, high speed toll system – one which does not require drivers to stop – would allow the capacity of the existing crossing to be quickly and dramatically increased, thus removing the need for a new crossing while ensuring that money was still raised for transport infrastructure improvements.
Hilary Newport, Director of Protect Kent said:
“The environmental damage that would be caused by an additional crossing, wherever it is placed, would be immense. Instead of building a new crossing government should be looking at practical ways to reduce our reliance on road based freight and the burden of pollution from cars and trucks.”
She continued:
“Equally importantly, the bottlenecks at the Dartford crossings could be eased significantly by using the same sort of high-speed number plate recognition technology that is used to collect the London congestion charge. Ministers should be paying urgent attention to making the best use of the resources that we already have, not to spending millions on a new crossing that will exacerbate the problems of traffic over a huge area of the south east. “
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Protect Kent’s Dartford and Gravesham Committee will be holding their AGM at Meopham Village Hall, Wrotham Road, Meopham on Thursday 23 April at 7.30pm.
If you would like to discuss the proposed new crossing in Dartford or anything else in this District, please come along to the meeting and have your say. All are invited to attend.
-ENDS-
For more information, contact:
Hilary Newport
Director, Protect Kent (The Kent Branch of CPRE)
3 Evegate Park Barn
Station Road
Smeeth
Ashford
Kent
TN25 6SX
01303 815183
[1] The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) exists to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. We promote a positive long-term future for the countryside – one which values its natural and built environment. Our Patron is Her Majesty the Queen. We have 60,000 supporters, a branch in every county, nine regional groups, over 200 local groups and a national office in London. CPRE is a powerful combination of effective local action and strong national campaigning. Our president is Bill Bryson.
Protect Kent (The Kent Branch of CPRE) is one of the charity’s largest county groups, with more than 3,000 supporters, 12 district groups and two special-interest groups, which focus on transport and environment.
[2] Protect Kent (The Kent Branch of CPRE) exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country.
Registered office: 3 Evegate Park Barn, Station Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6SX. Phone: 01303 815180, fax: 01303 815189, www.protectkent.org.uk or www.cprekent.org.uk, email: info@cprekent.org.uk.
A company limited by guarantee, registered in England number 4335730, registered charity number 1092012.