In Parliament this week on Wednesday, 4^th June, Adam, during a transport debate raised a number of questions on the Dartford Crossing.

He questioned the Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton, on what estimates the government has made on the delays by congestion to commercial travellers and commuters using the Crossing.

She replied that the average north bound delays were three minutes and the south bound by two minutes.

Adam responded: “I am staggered that the government does not live in the real world where, in reality, it is thousands of wasted hours sitting in traffic queues waiting to pay their £1 to the government with no discernable benefit to the long-suffering motorist, other than filling the Treasury coffers.

“I am offended by the arrogance of the Minister who described my idea of a one-week toll free trial as “unintelligent” and dismissed a government report that stated if the tolls were removed on the south bound carriageway congestion would disappear.  This high-handed approach is typical of a government that is deaf to what the people and business want and need.”

Dear Mr Holloway,

Thank you for raising the debate on the Dartford River Crossing held this week in Parliament.

The Federation of Small Businesses in Kent and Medway fully support initiatives to relieve the traffic bottleneck at the Dartford River Crossing. We also fully support the campaign for a new Lower Thames Crossing to relieve congestion and delays at Dartford and enable quicker and more efficient transport links between Kent and the Channel Ports with Essex, the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland.

If there is anything we may do to support you in this campaign, please do not hesitate to ask.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Aves

Andrew Aves

Regional Organiser

Kent & Medway