Anda di halaman 1dari 64

Growthwithoutgridlock

AtransportdeliveryplanforKent

December2010

OliverMannion

Growthwithoutgridlock
Contents
Foreword:ouroffertoGovernment 1.Introduction 2.DeliveringGrowthandProsperity 3.UnlockingKentsPotential 4.TransportsWiderContribution 5.Our20YearFundingPlan 6.TheThamesGateway:gearingupforgrowth 7.TheChannelCorridor:relievingthepressure 8.WestKent:cuttingcongestionalongtheA21corridor 9.EastKent:radicalsolutionsneeded 10.AnIntegratedPublicTransportNetwork:supportingKentsworkforce 11.LocalDevelopmentFrameworks:securinginfrastructure 12.PrioritiesforGrowthwithoutgridlock:thebig,key,transportdriversforchange 2

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent
1

AtransportdeliveryplanforKent

3
5
6
8
10
15
26
36
41
47 55 60

Foreword
OuroffertoGovernment
KenthasSouthEastEnglandsgreatestpotentialtodelivereconomic growthworthbillionsofpoundstotheUKeconomyandtostimulate privatesectorledrecovery. Theschemesidentifiedinthisprogrammeforregenerationforma collectivepackagewhich,ifdeliveredinitstotality,willdeliverbenefits onascalefargreaterthanthesumofitsparts. KentCountyCouncil(KCC)fullysupportstheCoalitionGovernments viewthatthedefinitionoflocalinvestmentprioritiesshouldbeinthe handsoflocalgovernment,workingsidebysidewithbusinessand communitiesandwestandreadytotakeourdeliveryplanforwardas anearlypilotofthisapproach. Thisdocumentpullstogetherthebigstrategictransportsolutionsbut doesnottrytoincludeeverything.Ithighlightsthoseschemesthatwe feelcanbedeliveredbycreativeandinnovativemeans.Wewantto workwithCentralGovernmentandthereforeaskofthem:
1

andbusinesstotakemorestrategicdecisionsaboutsubregional prioritiessowecansubstantiallyreducecosts.Thiswouldenable KCCtoprogresslongawaitedschemessuchastheduallingofthe A21betweenTonbridgeandPembury,whichiscrucialtorelieving congestionandimprovingaccesstothenewPemburyHospital.


1

WealsoneedGovernmenttoplayitspart.Giventhenational strategicimportanceoftheproposedLowerThamesCrossing,we havecommissionedstudiesonthefeasibilityandbenefitsofthisvital pieceofinfrastructureandasktheGovernmenttoactswiftlyupon itscommitmenttoconductadetailedfeasibilitystudyoftheprincipal crossing options.We also ask the Government to holdfirmonits pledge,intheNationalInfrastructurePlan,tobringforwardascheme offoreignlorryroadusercharging.Therevenueraisedfromthe chargemustbeusedtofundalongtermsolutiontoOperation Stackaswellastheothervitalschemesidentifiedinthistransport deliveryplanforKent.

GiveKCCanditspartnersthepowerandfundingtotakeforward strategictransportprojectswhichwerepreviouslytheresponsibility ofCentralGovernment;toidentifyandrealiseefficiencies;andto deliverswiftandmeaningfulgrowth. Weneedcheaperandfasterwaystodeliverstrategicinfrastructure. WeproposethetransferofHighwaysAgencybudgetsandpowersto localtransportauthoritiesinordertoremovetheexisting duplicationofmaintenancefunctionsandtoenablelocalgovernment

KCChasexcitingandrealisticplansforthefuture.Wehavealready produced21stCenturyKentUnlockingKentsPotential,our frameworkforeconomicdevelopmentoverthenext20yearsandwith ourexcellenttrackrecordofworkingwithGovernmentandbusiness tobringforwardstrategicinfrastructureschemes,wehaveinplacea clearstrategicbaseonwhichtoproceedandarenowreadytodeliver. TheCountryisatacrossroadsandweneedtogetonand delivertheseimprovements.

PaulCarter LeaderofKentCountyCouncil December2010

1.Introduction

TheabilitytotravelfreelyaroundourCountyisessentialtoour everyday lives.A good transport network is vital for Kents residents and businesses to have access to opportunities,goods and services,to attract newcompaniesintotheCounty,tostimulateeconomicgrowthand regeneration and to help us cope with the demandforincreasedhousing. Weexpecttobeabletotraveleasily,safelyandquickly.Weneedtobe realistictheprivatecarwillcontinuetoremainthemostpopularand dominantformoftransportforourresidentsandtheseexpectations anddemandsincreasepressureonourtransportnetwork,onour environmentandonusasindividuals.

Aswellasmaximisingopportunitiesfortravelusingtheexisting transportnetwork,wewillseektointroducemuchneedednew infrastructuretostimulateeconomicgrowth,throughalternative sourcesoffunding.

Thisrelianceisalsothereasonwhyourroadnetworkiscongestedand inresponseourvisionistocreateahighqualityintegratedtransport networkwhichwillcreateopportunitiesforrealtransportchoiceas

Kentsgrowthagendaishuge.We willensurethatnewcommunitiesare designedinawaythatembracestravelchoiceandwherethetransport network enables residentsandbusinessestoprosper.Setagainstthis,we will continue to develop our County in a sustainableway,whichminimises theeffectofpollutionandclimatechangeontheenvironment.

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

wellasenablingeconomicgrowthandregeneration.Enhancedroad,rail andbusnetworkswillreinforceandsupporteachother,providing Kentsresidentsandbusinesseswithcomprehensiveandreliable transportchoices.

KentistheUKsfrontdoor

2.DeliveringGrowthandProsperity

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent
5
TheGreaterSouthEastistheonlyareaoftheUKthatcancompete withthemajorregionaleconomiesofEurope,AsiaandtheAmericas. ItisoneoftheworldsbiggestmarketsforUKbusinessandthe revenuegeneratedbyitshighvalueeconomysupportsinvestmentin otherareas.Yetitsfuturesuccessiscriticallydependentonthe resilienceofKentstransportnetwork,includingitsstrategiclinksto EssexandEastSussex. KenthastheUKsonlyHighSpeedrailline,offeringfrequentservices toarangeofnorthernEuropeandestinationsviatheChannelTunnel.It ishometothecountrysbusiestandmostsuccessfulferryportat Dover,whichhasambitiousplansforexpansiontomeetgrowing demandforcrossChannelfreight.Andithasanemerginginternational airportatManstonwiththecapacitytocaterfortheincreasingfreight andpassengermovementsexpectedatSouthEastairportsoverthe next30years. KenthastheSouthEastsgreatestpotentialforsuccessfuleconomic growth.TheCountyboastsBritainslargestquantityofhighquality affordabledevelopmentland,allofwhichbenefitsfromexcellent connectivityandaccesstoKentsstunningcountrysideandcoast.Inthe ThamesGateway,thedeliveryof53,000newhomesand58,000jobs formpartofEuropeslargestregenerationprogramme,whilethe GrowthAreaofAshfordandtheGrowthPointsofDoverand Maidstoneofferexcellentprospectsforprivatesectorjobsgrowth. IfKentistoaccommodatethisgrowth,itstransportnetworkmusthave sufficientcapacityandresiliencetoprovideforefficientandreliable journeys.However,theCountyshighwaynetworkisalreadyoverloaded atcriticalpointsandisparticularlyvulnerabletoincidentsatthe DartfordCrossingandtheChannelports. Kentalsohaspocketsofsocialdisadvantagewhichrequireurgent attention,concentratedwithinthoseseasidetownsinEastKentwhich haveyettofeelthebenefitoftheHighSpeedrailservicesand employmentopportunities.Transporthasakeyroletoplayinenabling atransformationofthefortunesofsuchcommunities. KCC,togetherwithlocalbusinessesandstakeholders,hastherefore developedaplanofactionforfundinganddeliveringimprovementsto theCountysstrategicinfrastructure.Theschemescontainedwithin thisplanareentirelyconsistentwiththestrategicdirectionoutlinedin theCoalitionGovernments2010ComprehensiveSpendingReviewand NationalInfrastructurePlan.Theywilldeliverproductivitybenefits worthbillionsofpoundsayearandwillbepaidforthroughinnovative fundingmechanismssuchasTaxIncrementFinancing(TIF),banning foreignlorrybellytanksandaportlandingcharge,therebyminimising thecoststothepublicpurse. Intakingforwardtheseproposals,wewanttogetthemostoutofthe CoalitionGovernmentslocalistapproachtoeconomicgrowthandto demonstratethatputtingbusinessandlocalgovernmentincharge throughtheKent,GreaterEssexandEastSussexLocalEnterprise Partnershipcandeliverswiftandpracticalresults.

3.UnlockingKentsPotential

TheneedforaTransportDeliveryPlanforKentwasidentifiedinKent CountyCouncilsframeworkforregenerationentitledUnlockingKents Potential:opportunitiesandchallenges. Thisframeworkidentifiesthekeyopportunitiesandthechallengesthat mustbeaddressedtodeliverlonglastingregenerationandeconomic growthintheCountyand,throughthe21stCenturyKentUnlocking KentsPotential deliveryplans,establishesaseriesofpriorityareasfor actionbytheCountyCouncilanditspartnersforthenext2030years. UnlockingKentsPotentialredefinesregenerationtoincludenotonly economicgrowthbutalsotransformationineducationandskills,the culturerenaissanceintheCounty,anefficienttransportsystem, developingastrongcivicspirit,tacklingclimatechangeandimproving housingconditions.Itsetsacleardirectionforachievingeconomic growthanddiversifyingKentemployment;particularlyacrossthe professionalsector. UnlockingKentsPotentialrepresentstheCountyCouncilsfirststep towardsdefiningwhatKentwilllooklikeinthefutureandprovidesa baselineforabroadpolicyapproachthatwillinformthedevelopment ofaseriesoffurtherstrategiesandimplementationplans. Thesestrategieswillbecomethecollectiveevidencebasetoinform futurestrategicinvestmentplans.ATransportDeliveryPlanforroad, rail,airandsea,whichaddressesthekeytransportsolutionsthatneed tobeimplementedoverthenext2030years,isoneofthesekey strategieswhichwillenableustoUnlockKentsPotentialandsupport theCountyCouncilsEnvironmentStrategytargetofreducing greenhousegasemissionsby20%by2020,40%by2030and80% by2050. Akeydeliverystrandof21stCenturyKentUnlockingKentsPotential, GrowthWithoutGridlockoutlineshoweconomicgrowthand regenerationcanbedeliveredinasustainablewayandwhat infrastructureisneededtodeliveranintegratedtransportnetwork whichisfitforpurposeinthe21stCentury.

Credit:LandSecurities

Deliver 50,000 jobs and 25,000 homes at Ebbsfleet and Eastern Quarry

MEDWAY
Capacity of Dartford Crossing Support development of land in Sheppey, M2, J5 and Sittingbourne Development at KIA to 4.7 MPPA

M20 capacity

Capacity at Brenley Corner (M2, J7) South Canterbury need to link 4,000 homes with A2 & city centre Bridge interchange

Capacity of M25 and M26/A21 link

Ensure growth at Maidstone has good access to M20

Additional access to Ashford needed at new M20 J10A

Growth Point supports Dover regeneration and ensure Whitfield/White Cliffs linked to town centre

A21 capacity 40% of sub-region housing requires public transport link to Ashford town centre (Smartlink)

Overnight lorry parking and Operation Stack

Growth Point Growth Area Transport Challenge Airport

Figure3.1KentsTransportChallenges

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

4.TransportsWiderContribution

Transportisvitalnotasanendinitselfbutasanenablerofeconomic growthandregenerationandmanyessentialsocialactivities.Thewayin whichweplanandoperateourtransportnetworksalsohasa significantimpactonthequalityofourenvironment. GrowthWithoutGridlockidentifiesthenecessarytransport infrastructureneededtoaccommodatethelevelofeconomicgrowth andregenerationplannedforKent,themeasuresrequiredtomanage theexistingnetworkandofferstravelchoiceandbetteraccesstojobs.

SupportingIndependence
ThelastdecadehasseenchangesintheageprofileofKents population.Themostsignificantpopulationincreasehasbeenamong the4559agegroupandasaconsequence,Kentwillhaveapopulation thatismucholderin10to15yearsthanitistoday.Forecastspredict thattheolderagegroupswillbefoundinThanet,Shepway,Canterbury andDoverwithpredominatelyyoungerpopulationsinAshfordand Dartford. ThesedifferencesinpopulationacrossKentneedtobetakeninto accountwhenweconsiderimprovementstothetransportnetwork, especiallyrelatingtoaccesstokeyservices,vulnerability,personalsafety andaffordability.GrowthWithoutGridlocksupportsthepolicy frameworkforLivingLaterLifetotheFullbylookingtoimprove accessibilitytokeyservicesbypublictransportincludinghealthcentres, GPsurgeriesandhospitals.

ManagedEconomicGrowth
Sustainableeconomicgrowthandregenerationisrelianton comprehensiveandresilienttransportnetworks.Thesenetworksare essentialtoincreasingbusinessefficiencybygeneratingtimesavingsand improvedreliabilityforbusinesstravellers,freightandlogistics operations.Theysupportclustersofeconomicactivity,expandlabour marketcatchments,andfacilitatebusinesstobusinessinteractions. KentseconomyisnotasprosperousasotherpartsoftheSouthEast, withaGrossDomesticProduct(GDP)perheadofpopulationwell belowtheregionalaverage,andarelativelyhighunemploymentrate. TheseproblemsareparticularlyacuteinareasofEastKentandaround thecoastalfringe,whichuntilrecentlyhavesufferedfromrelatively poorroadandraillinks. Inordertoachievethescaleofeconomicgrowthnecessarytosupport sustainable development in the Countys GrowthAreas and the regeneration ofourcoastaltowns,itisvitalthatbusinessandretailsitesarewell connectedtoreliableandintegratedmultimodaltransportnetworks.

RuralIssues
Kentisaruralcounty.Some85%ofKentslandareaisclassifiedasrural andalmost30%oftheCountysresidentsliveinruralareas.While severalofKentsdistrictsregularlytopnationalsurveysmeasuring qualityoflifeandthewealthofresidents,almosthalfoftheSouthEasts worstareasofruraldisadvantagearetobefoundinKent.Theseare concentratedinthedistrictsofAshford,ShepwayandSwale.Kent alsohasasignificantnumberofruralresidentswithfewskills andqualifications. Mostruralresidentsliveinlargevillagesandthereisthepotentialfor animprovedtransportnetwork,includingpedestrianandcyclingroutes

HealthandRoadSafety
Transporthasbothpositiveandnegativeimpactsonpeopleshealth. Improvingaccessibilitytohospitals,healthcentresandGPsurgeries makesiteasierforpeopletoseekimmediatetreatmentratherthan delaycareduetolackoftransport.Moderateactivityplaysapartin improvinghealthandwalkingandcyclingaregoodformsofexercise thatcaneasilybeincorporatedintoourbusylives.Healthandroad safetyareinterlinked,andreducingcasualtiescausedbyvehicular trafficisaconstantpriorityforcentralandlocalgovernment.Recent yearshaveseenagradualdeclineinroadcasualtiesthroughchanges tothehighwayandvehicledesign,awarenessraising,education andenforcement. Thereare36areasinKentwhereairpollution,causedbyroadtraffic, exceedstheGovernmentsobjectivesandthesecanleadtorespiratory diseaseandillness.Althoughpreviouslylocatedmainlyonthemotorway andtrunkroadnetwork,thenumberoflocationsonlocalroadsin urbanareasissteadilyincreasing.

ClimateChange
IntheSouthEast,itissuggestedthatby2080,summerswillbehotter by26Candsummerrainfallwilldecreaseby2060%;winterswillbe warmerby1.53.5Candwinterrainfallwillincreaseby1030%.Kent isparticularlyvulnerable,duetoitslocationandstretchesoflow lyingcoastline.

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

toconnectthesecommunitieswitheachotherandmajorurban centres.Otherimportantissuesaretheimpactoftrafficonruralroads, especiallylorriesusinginappropriatenarrowlanesandspeedingon remotecountryroads.

Roadtransportisresponsibleforaround30%ofKentsgreenhousegas emissions.Thewayforwardistoprovidelowcarbontransportoptions alliedwithbetterplanningtoreducetheneedtotravelwhichwill supporteconomicgrowthandhousinggrowthandtackleclimate change,supportingtheKentEnvironmentStrategytargetasour contributiontotheUKClimateChangeAct(2008)greenhousegas reductiontargets.

5.Our20YearFundingPlan

InthewakeoftheCoalitionGovernments2010Comprehensive SpendingReviewitisclearthatpublicsectorfundingfortransport infrastructurewillbeverylimitedfortheforeseeablefuture,meaning thatlocalauthoritiescannotcontinuetorelyonexistingfunding streams.Nevertheless, we are committed to securing the timely delivery of plannedhousing and employment growth which will kickstart the economic recovery inKentandthewiderSouthEast.TheCounty Councilhasthereforetakenboldandinnovativestepstoidentify alternativesourcesoffundingwhich,takenintheirtotality,could generatesome616millionperyear overthenext20years withoutanyrecoursetothepublicpurse.Weareworkingcloselywith Governmenttounlockthisfundingandhavealreadyachievedpositive progress,includingcommitmentsbytheDepartmentforTransportto introduceaschemeofforeignlorryroaduserchargingby2014andto hypothecatefutureDartfordCrossingtollrevenuetowardsthecostof anewLowerThamesCrossing. theareathatfeelstheimpactofthetollmostacutely.Thishasbeen facilitatedbytheCoalitionGovernmentsannouncement,aspartofthe 2010ComprehensiveSpendingReview,thatithasdecidednottosell theDartfordCrossingatthistimeandthatthecrossingchargesfor carswillberaisedto2.00in2011and2.50in2012.Thiswillfundthe provisionoffreeflowtollingusingAutomaticNumberPlate Recognition(ANPR)camerasfromlate2011,andwillcontributetothe capitalcostofthenewcrossinginthelongerterm.

Banningofbellytanks
WeandtheFreightTransportAssociation(FTA)aredeeplyconcerned bythepracticefollowedbymanyforeignhauliersofcarryinglarge additionalbellytanksofupto1,000litresofdiesel.Thesegivedrivers thecapacitytotravelfromLuxembourgtoAberdeenandreturn withouttheneedtofilluptheirfueltanks,andthusfurtherenhance theirabilitytoavoidpayingUKfuelduty.Ithasbeencalculatedthatthe UKTreasurylosesapproximately475millionayear inpotential taxrevenueasaresult.Thispracticealsopresentsasignificanthealth andsafetyhazardoncrossChannelrailandferryjourneysandwewill workwiththeFTAandGovernmenttooutlawitasquicklyaspossible. Ifthisisachieved,upto9.5billionofadditionalrevenuecouldbe captured overthe20yearperiodofthisDeliveryPlan,whichcould haveatransformationalimpactontransportinfrastructureinvestment inKent,includingthedeliveryoftheOperationStacklorrypark betweenJunctions10and11oftheM20andtheupgradingoftheA2 corridorinEastKent.

DartfordCrossingandLowerThamesCrossing
ThetotalcapitalcostoftheproposedLowerThamesCrossinghasbeen estimatedbyGiffordasbeingintheregionof1billion,withthe necessarylinkroadsintothemotorwaynetworknorthandsouthof theThamescostinguptoafurther2billion.Overa20yearperiod, tollrevenuesfromthenewcrossing,plusthosefromtheexisting DartfordCrossing,couldsupportaroundhalfofthesecosts,andforeign lorryroaduserchargingandaresidentplanningtariffinThames GatewayKentcouldprovidetheremainingfunding.Giventhatthe capitalcostoftheQueenElizabethIIBridgehasbeenpaidfor,thereisa strongcaseforusingthenetoperatingsurplustosupport infrastructureinvestmentthatencourageseconomicdevelopmentin

10

TaxIncrementFinancing(ThamesGatewayKent)
WestronglywelcometheCoalitionGovernmentsrecent announcementthatlocalauthoritieswillbegiventhepowerto introduceTaxIncrementFinancing(TIF)schemes.TIFisafunding methodusedforinfrastructureinvestmentinanumberofcountries, includingtheUnitedStates.Itusesforecastfuturegainsintaxationto financeinfrastructureimprovements.Theseimprovementsserveto increasethevalueanddesirabilityofsurroundinglandandhence promotefurtherinwardinvestment.Thisinturngeneratesgreatertax revenues,enablinglocalauthoritiestorecouptheirinitialinvestment.TIF hassignificantpotentialtoprovideasustainablefundingmodelto supportKentsgrowthaspirations.Atentativeassumptionwouldbe that35%oftheGrossValueAdded(GVA)impactsofanewLower ThamesCrossingwouldbecapturedintaxationandcouldthus contributeupto117millionayear forlocalinfrastructure investment.

ForeignLorryRoadUserCharging GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent
11
KCCisdelightedattheCoalitionGovernmentscommitment,inits NationalInfrastructurePlan,tointroduceaschemeofforeignlorry roadusercharging.TheGovernmenthaslistenedtotheevidencewe havepresentedandwillimplementavignetteimposingastandard chargeonalllorriesenteringtheUK.Thiswouldprovideanimportant newrevenuestreamofupto40millionayear (640millionover the20yearperiodofthisDeliveryPlan),aswellaslevellingtheplaying fieldforUKhauliersvisvistheirforeigncounterparts,manyofwhom entertheUKwithfullfueltanksandhencemakenocontributionto thecoststheyincurinthiscountrythroughroaddamage,congestion andemissions. WewillworktowardstheintroductionofanewsystemofHGVroaduser chargingtoensureafairerarrangementforUKhauliers.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernmentJuly2010

ResidentPlanningTariff(ThamesGatewayKent)
Theresidentplanningtariff,orrooftax,isbasedonexistingpractices oflevyingstandardchargesonnewdevelopments,suchastheMilton KeynesTariff.Underresidentplanningtariffarrangements,newhousing developmentsgivenplanningpermissionwouldpayasetcontribution tothecostofnewinfrastructure.Theamounteachdevelopmentwould payperdwellingwouldvaryacrossKent;howeverareasonable assumptionwouldbethatnewdwellingsintheThamesGatewayKent GrowthAreashouldcontributeapproximately10,000eachintariff payments,representingacontributionof10millionperyear overthe20yearperiodofthisDeliveryPlan.

PortLandingCharge(carsandcoaches)
Thepracticeoflevyingasmalldevelopmentchargeoninternational passengersisalreadywellestablishedatanumberofUKairports.The chargeisusedtofundimprovementstotheairportenvironment, includingparkingareasandaccessroads.Webelievethatthispractice shouldalsobeadoptedbytheUKsmajorseaports(includingDover andRamsgate)andtheChannelTunnel,inorderthatinternationalcar andcoachpassengersmakeareasonablecontributiontotheeconomic andenvironmentalburdenstheyplaceonKentsresidents,businesses andinfrastructure.ThechargewouldnotbeleviedonHGVs,giventhat haulierswouldbeaskedtomakeaseparatecontributionthroughthe proposedforeignlorryroadusercharge(seeabove).Achargeofjust 5foreachcarandcoachenteringtheUKwouldgeneratesome 12.5millionperyearforinvestmentinlocaltransport improvementschemes.

Releasingadditionalfunding AshfordRamsgatelinespeedimprovements
KCChasrecentlysupportedaNetworkRailstudytoidentifypotential linespeedenhancementsbetweenAshfordandRamsgatevia CanterburyWest.Thestudyfoundthatjourneytimesbetweenthetwo townscouldbereducedbyupto10minutesandthatthestrengthof thebusinesscaseforthenecessaryimprovementworksjustifiessome 5millioninvestmentforeveryminutesaved,representingapotential totalof50million.NetworkRailhasthereforecommittedto prepareafullbusinesscaseforthescheme,whichiscurrently scheduledforimplementationin2014.

IntegratedBusNetwork
Bytakingforwardthesuccessfulmodelofpartnershipworkingwith Kentscommercialbusoperatorswhichhasdeliveredpatronagegrowth ofsome65%overthepast10years,KCCwouldbeinapositionto makeanunprecedentedlevelofinvestmentinbusroute infrastructuretothelevelof80m.Wehavealreadyreceived agreementinprinciplethattheCountysmajorcommercialbus operatorswouldbepreparedtomatchfundsuchaninvestment,which wouldsecuresignificantserviceimprovements,newlowemission vehiclesandimprovedmarketingandinformation. InadditionwewillalsopursueEuropeanfundingopportunitiessuchas theEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund. Thetablesoppositeprovideadetailedannualbreakdownofour 20yearfundingplan.Pleasenotethatthefiguresprovidedarebasedon thecapitalcostsemergingfromourschemefeasibilitystudiesandthe latestavailablestatisticsforinternationalroadtraffic,Dartfordtoll incomeandhousingdelivery.Theyarethereforeindicativeonlyandwill requiremoredetailedanalysisbyKCCandCentralGovernmentas eachfundingmodelisdevelopedandimplemented.

ThanetParkwayStation
InitialfeasibilityanalysisbyKCCsuggeststhatthereisalsoastrong businesscaseforaThanetParkwaystationclosetoKentInternational Airport(KIA).TheCountyCouncil,togetherwithThanetDistrict CouncilandNetworkRail,iscurrentlypreparingabidtothe GovernmentsRegionalGrowthFundtobringforwardthe implementationofthenewstation,whichhasanestimatedcostof 10million.LastyearsTotalPlacepilotinThanetidentifiedmillionsof poundsworthofpotentialsavingstothedistricts180million welfarebill,whichcouldbeachievedbydeliveringpublicservices moreefficiently.Ifwearetorealisethesesavingsandtolockinthe benefitsofreduceddependencyforthelongterm,itmakessensethat someofthismoneyshouldbeusedtofundnewtransport infrastructureandserviceswhichwillimproveaccessibilitytojobsand services.

12

EstimatedCapitalCostsofPrioritiesforGrowth
ThirdThamesCrossing EnhancementstoM20/M2 Bifurcation OperationStack NetworkRailUpgradetoThanet(includingManstonParkwaystation) Integrated/EnhancedPublicTransport(busnetworketc) A21Dualling OtherDistrictbasedroadimprovements Total Spreadover25yearsannualrevenuecost(incl.interestandrepayment) 40million 80million 50million 100million 1.77BILLION 154millionp.a. 1000million

OurOffertoGovernment
IncreasedTollsatExistingDartfordCrossing ThirdThamesCrossingToll(assumingtransportgrowth) IncreasedDERVDutybanningbellytankstoEUHGVs TIFtariff(approx20%onroads&publictransport) ResidentPlanningTariff20%onroads Vignetteforforeignlorries PortLandingCharge EUTransEuropeanNetworkFunding Total NoteTheseestimatedfiguresdonotincludeanyGVAincreaseorwelfarereductiontoDWP

Perannum

20madditionalrevenue 30million 475million 23.4million 10million 40million 12.5million 5million 615.9millionp.a.

13

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

500million

Dartford Gravesend
A2 26

MEDWAY

Sheerness Margate Herne Bay Whitstable

Ebbsfleet

M2 5

A22

A228

M25

M2

A251

M26

Canterbury
A25 7

Maidstone
A27 A22 4 9

M2

0
CT RL

Ashford
A264

A26

Tunbridge Wells
A262

Channel Tunnel

Dover
070

A2

A2

Folkestone Hythe
A2 59

Thames Gateway Kent Channel Corridor West Kent:A21 Corridor East Kent Public Transport Improvements

Figure5.1OurPlanofAction

14

A2

Tonbridge

58

A2

A256

A2

Sevenoaks

A2

A20

A2

A2

Sittingbourne

56

M2 0

Faversham
49
A2

A2

99 A2

0 A2
A2

Ramsgate

A252

Deal

A21

28

6.TheThamesGateway:gearingupforgrowth

Action: provisionofaLowerThamesCrossingeast ofGravesend

Outcome: 6,000jobs,contribute12.7bntolocalGVA(334ma year),journeytimereliabilityandincreased networkresilience Cost: 1bn(excludingaccessroads)fundedfromexistingand futuretollsandforeignlorrycharging

ThamesGatewayKent
ThamesGatewayKentcoversthemajorityofthedistrictsofDartford, Gravesham and Swale including the main urban areas of Dartford,Gravesend, Northfleet,SittingbourneandSheerness.ItjoinsupwithMedway,South EssexandpartsofEastLondontoformtheThamesGatewayGrowth Area.Thereisatargettodevelop52,340newhomesand58,000jobs forThamesGatewayKentandMedwayovertheperiod20062026. TheeconomyofThamesGatewayKenthasundergoneastructural shiftoverthepast20years,reflectingthedeclineofthetraditionallocal industriesofmanufacturing,engineering,quarryingandpower generation.Althoughthishasbeenpartiallyoffsetbygrowthin employmentinconstructionandfinance,thereremainsignificant pocketsofunemploymentanddisadvantageineachoftheGrowth Areasconstituentdistricts.ThamesGatewayKentnonethelessexhibits greatpotentialforgrowthandregenerationgivenitsproximityto Londonandthewideavailabilityofbrownfielddevelopmentsites.

Theareaenjoysgenerallygoodroadandraillinks,beinglocatedonthe M2/A2corridorandhavingbenefittedfromthecommencementof SoutheasternHighSpeedservicestoLondoninDecember2009. Unfortunately,connectivityacrosstheThamesisverypoorwithmajor congestionattheDartfordCrossinglimitingthegrowthofthewhole ThamesGatewayarea.NorthSouthlinksarealsopoor,whichresultsin congestiononthemaininterurbanroutestoMaidstoneand Tonbridge/TunbridgeWells.Withinthearea,thisnewgrowthwillput pressureonlocalroadsandthereforesustainedinvestmentinnew infrastructureisnecessary.

15

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

Issue:

congestionatDartfordCrossinganditsapproaches costsUKeconomysome40mayear

ThisnewhousingandemploymentwillbefocussedaroundEbbsfleet InternationalStation,withmixedusecommunitiesplannedforthe EbbsfleetValleyandEasternQuarrydevelopmentsites.Newhousing andemploymentinSwalewillbefocusedaroundSittingbourneand Sheppey.Swale Borough Council is proposing the developmentof8,700 newhomesover the next 15years.The Port of Sheerness has plans for major expansion whichalsoincorporatenewhousing.ThePortisthe largestemployerinSheernessandtheschemeofferssignificantbenefits forthetown.

M11

A12

11 19
M25

22 22 8 18

6
A127

Southend

3.9 3 4 3 8
Tilbury
A13

A102 (M)

A282

Grain

Sheerness

1.5 8
A2 A228

1.8 3.9
M2

6
A20

10 18

1.5

1.6

2.5
A249 M20

1.7

A2

Figure6.2 HGVFlowsperday200809 (thousands)showsthevolume(in thousands)oftwowayHGVmovements perdayonthestrategicroadnetworkin KentandEssex.Itillustratestheheavy relianceofroadfreightfromDoverand theChannelTunneltravellingnorth,and fromthemajordistributioncentresinthe Midlandstravellingsouth,ontheDartford Crossing,whichispartoftheTrans EuropeanTransportNetwork(TENT).

8.4 7.2 16 15

Dover

3.7
Channel Tunnel
A20

LowerThamesCrossing
TheDartfordCrossingisoneoftheUKsmostimportantstrategic connections.ItofferstheshortestfreightroutebetweentheKentports andthemajordistributioncentresintheMidlandsandthenorthof Englandandcarriessome 18,000HGVsaday (seeFigure6.2).Yetthe capacityoftheexistingbridgeandtunnelsisconsiderablyoverloaded forlargeperiodsofthedayand,likeallestuarialcrossings,ithaslimited resiliencetoincidents.

TheCrossingexperiencesanaverageof15majorincidentsayear whichrequiretheclosureofsomeorallofthecarriageways,alongwith fiveadditionalclosuresoftheQueenElizabethIIBridgeduetohigh winds.ThewiderimpactsonthehighwaynetworksofKentandEssex aresevereandextensive,affectingthereliabilityofjourneytimesforall roadusersandcostingtheUKeconomysome40milliona year.Disruptionatthesetimesisincreasedsincethealternativeroutes aresignificantlylongerthanthedirectcrossing.

16

Havingestablishedaclearandpressingneedforanewcrossing,Kent andEssexCountyCouncilsjointlycommissionedanindependentstudy toevaluatetheprincipaloptionsfortheformandlocationofanew crossingin2008.Thisstudywascarriedoutbyateamofconsultants comprisingGifford,MVAandCapitaandlookedatninepossible locations.KCCfollowedthisin2010bycommissioningafurtherstudy byKPMGaimedatdevelopingabusinesscaseforthecrossing.Whilst allcrossingoptionsdemonstratedpositiveeconomicbenefits,the KPMGstudyidentifiedthatanewcrossingbetweenChadwellinEssex andeastofGravesend,linkingtheM25withtheA2/M2wouldhave majoreconomicbenefitsforthelocalarea(seeFigure6.3onpage18).

TheDepartmentforTransportintendstobeginthenecessaryconsultation
onproposalsforthenewchargingregimeattheDartfordCrossingaround
theendof2010.
Increasingthechargesasproposedallowsfutureinvestmentin
improvementsattheCrossing,includingtheimplementationoffreeflow
chargingtechnology,andfundingofproposalsforanew,additionallower
Thamescrossinginthelongerterm.

MichaelPenning ParliamentaryUnderSecretaryofState(RoadsandMotoring)

BenefitsofanewCrossingtotheeastofGravesend
1

AnewcrossingtotheeastofGravesendwouldremovethetwo mostimportantconstraintsongrowthintheThames Gateway,providingsignificantadditionalcapacityonthestrategic roadnetworkbetweentheKentportsandtheMidlands. TheChadwelltoGravesendoptionwouldunlocksubstantial regenerationopportunities.KPMGestimatesthatthecrossing wouldcreatearound6,000jobsinNorthKentandSouth Essexandcontribute12.7billiontolocalGVA (334millionayear). TheChadwelltoGravesendoptionwouldprovidethepotentialto betterservethenewLondonGatewayport,whichisbeing developedbyDubaiPortsWorldnearStanfordleHopeinThurrock.

17

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

Itisclearthatthecurrentsituationwillonlygetworse.Notonlywill freightvolumescontinuetorisebutover200,000plannednewhomes intheThamesGatewaywillgeneratetheirowndemand.Asolutionis neededthatwillfreeupthisvitalnationalconnectionandsupportjob creationinKentandEssex.

KCChasthereforeadoptedthisasitspreferredlocationandwillnow workwithallpartnersandGovernmenttofurtherdevelopthecasefor athirdcrossingoftheThames.

M25

Stanford Le Hope

A1

London Gateway
Tham e s

M11

Grays
A1089 Existing Dartford Crossing

Figure6.3:StrategicLocationofProposedLower
ThamesCrossing

Dartford Gravesend
A2 A228 Proposed Lower Thames Crossing

M25

Medway Towns

Thames Gateway Regeneration Area Lower Thames Crossing

Constructionofthecontainerportandlogisticsparkbeganearlier thisyearandisexpectedtogeneratesome12,000private sectorjobs.


1

The new crossing offers a valuable opportunityto implement a systemof bifurcation for traffic heading to and fromthe Channelports.Underthissystem,vehiclestravellingtothe ContinentbywayofDoversEastern Docks would be encouraged to route viathe LowerThamesCrossingandtheM2/A2,whilethose travellingthroughtheWesternDocksortheChannelTunnelwould beroutedviatheDartfordCrossingandtheM20/A20.Thiswould

M2

M2/A2

Kent

M20

Dover

greatlyincreasetheefficiencyofKentsmotorwayandtrunkroad network,therebyfacilitatingthegrowthofAshford,Doverand MaidstonebyfreeinguproadcapacityintheChannelCorridor.


1

Thecrossingwouldalsofacilitatenorthsouthjourneys to educationandemploymentopportunitiesinNorthKentandSouth Essex.ThisisevidencedbythefactthattrafficlevelsontheDartford Crossinghavegrownatalowerratethanothermotorwaysin southernEnglandinrecentyears(Figure6.4).

18

200,000
Average Daily Traffic Flow (Vehicles)
Naomi forecast assuming future growth in the area and Thames Gateway Bridge

1
Widening Transport Gap threatens economic vitality by forcing travellers to endure further increases in congestion threaterning investment and regeneration in South Essex/North Kent and impacting on regional/national productivity

180,000
Average Daily Flow on Southeast Motorways (rebased), HA

Anewcrossingwouldhelptosecurethedevelopmentofan integratedbusnetworkfortheThamesGateway,including theFastrackandSouthEssexBusRapidTransitschemes. FutureworkonthedevelopmentoftherouteinThurrockandEssex tobediscussedwithpartners.

160,000

M20/M25Widening
TheHighwaysAgencyplanstotrialtheuseofhardshoulderrunningin peakperiodstoincreasecapacityontheM25Junctions57by2015and theM20Junctions35by2019.Wewillworkwiththemtocoordinate theworkofourTrafficManagementCentrestocutjourneytimes andcontinuetolobbyfortheseimprovementstobeimplemented withoutdelay.

140,000
Average Daily Crossing Flow, HA

Forecast using trend over last four years

120,000
2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Naomi forecast from Getting the Most Out Of Dartford report for HA 2004

Thameslink
Figure6.4DartfordCrossingTransportGapindicatesthatwhilst averagetrafficlevelsperdayhaveincreasedattheDartfordCrossingin recentyears,thishasoccurredatalowerratethanothermotorwaysin SouthEastEngland.Thissuggeststhatnorthsouthjourneysto employment,educationandleisureopportunitiesarebeingsuppressed bytheavailablecapacity.Thistransportgapisprojectedtowiden furtherinfutureyears,whichwouldhaveasignificantimpactonthe economicvitalityoftheThamesGatewayshouldnoadditionalcrossing capacitybeprovided. TheexpansionofThameslinkrailservicesfrom2018willsignificantly improveaccesstoandfromtheCity.TheCountyCouncilwilllobbyfor KenttobenefitfromthesenewservicesandinparticularforMaidstone tobelinkeddirectlyintotheThameslinknetwork.

Crossrail
Crossrailisanexcitingnewrailwaylinerunningeasttowestacross LondonfromMaidenheadviaHeathrow,PaddingtonandLiverpool StreetstationstoShenfieldinEssexandAbbeyWood.Duetobe completeby2018,itwillbringanadditional1.5millionpeoplewithin45 minutescommutingdistanceofLondonskeybusinessdistricts.The CountyCouncilwelcomedtheCoalitionGovernmentscommitment,in the2010ComprehensiveSpendingReview,thattheprojectwillbe

19

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

Dartford Crossing - Transport Gap

Byphysicallyseparatingthenewcrossingfromtheexistingone, therewouldbesubstantiallymoreresilienceinthetransport network,makingitmuchlessvulnerabletosingleincidents.

deliveredinfull.WewillnowcontinuetoworkwithTransportfor LondontomakethecasefortheextensionofCrossrailtoGravesend viaDartfordandEbbsfleetInternational.

StrategicTransportInvestmentPackageSchemes
TrafficmodellingtosupporttheKentThamesideTransportStrategyhas identifiedanumberoffuturecongestionhotspotswhichwillresult fromthemajordevelopmentplannedfortheareaoverthenext20 years.Thishasledtothedevelopmentof11StrategicTransport InvestmentPackageSchemes(STIPS)whichwillbeprimarilyfundedby theDepartmentforTransport,theHomesandCommunitiesAgency, anddevelopers.Ifalloftheseschemescanbedelivered,theywillhelpto reducecongestionatovercapacityjunctionsby21%intheeveningpeak andreducejourneytimesby3%ormoreby2025.The11STIPS schemesare:
1

A2Beanjunctionimprovementstoimproveaccessbetween theA2,EasternQuarryandBluewater; A2Demandmanagement introductionofvariablespeed limits,accessmanagement,VariableMessageSigns(VMS)andvehicle prioritylanes; A2Ebbsfleetjunctionimprovements toimproveaccess betweentheA2,EbbsfleetInternationalstation,andEasternQuarry; A256ThamesWayduallingtoimproveaccesstoEbbsfleet Internationalstation; Fastrackbusway:NorthfleettoGarrickStreet,Gravesend provisionofdedicatedFastrackroutetoGravesendtowncentre fromnewdevelopmentarea; DartfordTownCentreimprovementstorevisetraffic circulationontheringroadandimprovebusaccessinsupportof developmentproposals;

1
Eurostar

CongestionManagement
TheCountyCouncilsrecentinvestmentinUrbanTrafficManagement andControl(UTMC)systemenablesustomaximisetheefficiencyof thelocalhighwaynetworkastrafficlevelsincreaseinlinewith development.OurTrafficManagementCentrehassuccessfullyreduced averagejourneytimesintoMaidstonetowncentreduringpeakperiods andweareexpandingthesystemtocoverDartfordandGravesend towncentres.Aswellasreducingcongestion,theUTMCwillalso supportmeasuresimplementedbyDartfordandGraveshamBorough CouncilstoreducetrafficpollutionindesignatedAirQuality ManagementAreas(AQMAs).
1

20

RathmoreRoadlink,Gravesendprovisionofnewsectionof onewaysystemtosupportnewpublictransportinterchangenorth ofGravesendrailstation; A226LondonRoad/B255StClementsWayunderpass provisionofunderpasstoimprovejunctioncapacity; UrbanTrafficManagementandControl(UTMC) introductionoftrafficsignalcontrolsystem,trafficflowmonitoring usingCCTV,additionalsignalisedjunctions,VMSandRealTime Information(RTI); A206BobDunnWayjunctionimprovementconversionof MarshStreetroundabouttoasignalisedjunction; B262HallRoadjunctionimprovement junctioncapacity improvementandtrafficcalmingonSpringheadRoad.

Thamesport GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent
21
ThamesportisthelargestdeepwatercontainerportinMedway, carryingarelativelyhighvolumeofcontainerstoandfromtheportby rail(some20%).Furtherdevelopmentoftheportwouldbenefitfrom improvedaccessbytheA228andformorecapacityonthebranch.

Sheerness
SheernessisthelargestUKportforfreshproduceandhasthe opportunitytointensifyitsactivitywithinitsexistingboundarieswith theoptiontoexpandontonearbyindustrialareas.TheSecondSwale Crossinghassignificantlyimprovedroadaccesstotheport,but improvedrailaccessandfacilitiesareneededtoincreasetheamountof railfreighttoandfromtheport.Amassiveregenerationprojectto transformSheernessPortwasannouncedinSeptember2009,witha marinaforupto500largeyachts,threenewdeepwaterberths,new housingandanextensionofcommercialshippingfacilities.

Dartford
DartfordislocatedattheheartoftheThamesGateway,bordering GreaterLondonandEssex.TheA2andM25passthroughtheborough andprovidehighcapacityroutestoLondon,theChannelPortsandthe widerSouthEast.TherearefiverailwaylinestoLondonandtheKent coast,aswellasdailycommutercoachesprovidingfast,directservices toCanaryWharfandtheCity. Anadditional17,000homesareplannedinDartfordovertheperiod 2006to2026,whichwillincreasetheboroughspopulationbyover 40%.NewcommunitieswillbecreatedintheEbbsfleettoStone corridor,ontheThameswaterfrontandinDartfordtowncentre.The largestofthesewillbeatEasternQuarry,wheremorethan6,000 homeswillbebuilt. Ifthisgrowthistobedeliveredwithoutcreatingtransportgridlock,a highqualitypublictransportnetworklinkingthenewdevelopmentsites withlocaltowncentres,employmentareas,transportinterchangesand keyservicesisessential.Dartfordsgrowthstrategyistherefore predicatedonthefurtherdevelopmentoftheFastrackBusRapid Transit(BRT)network,includingadirectroutethroughtheEastern QuarrydevelopmenttoEbbsfleetInternationalStation. ThekeytransportchallengesforKentThamesideare: 1 RelievingthecapacityandairqualityissuesattheDartfordCrossing 1 Transferringexistingandnewcartripsontopublictransport,walking andcycling,especiallyforshortjourneys 1 TacklingcongestionhotspotsincludingtheM25/A282Dartford Crossing,theA2corridorincludingtheBeanInterchange;and Dartfordtowncentre
1

Integratingrailservicesandimprovingconnectivitybetweenstations tomaximisethebenefitsofSoutheasternHighSpeedservices Providingsufficienttransportinfrastructuretomitigatetheimpactof theplanneddevelopmentincludingwalkingandcyclingroutes MitigatingthesignificantlevelsoftrafficgeneratedbyBluewater

Proposals
LowerThamesCrossingtorelievecongestionattheDartfordCrossing, potentiallyincorporatingFastrackfacilitiestoextendthisBusRapid TransitsystemintotheSouthEssexRapidTransitsystem. BusandrailinterchangeatDartfordstation. FastracklinkstoNorthernGatewaydevelopmentandthrough EasternQuarry.

22

Gravesham
1

Proposals
LowerThamesCrossingtorelievecongestionattheDartfordCrossing, potentiallyincorporatingFastrackfacilitiestoextendthisBusRapid TransitsystemintotheSouthEssexRapidTransitsystem. TransportQuartercentredonGravesendrailstation.

Thedeliveryofapproximately9,000newhomesisexpectedin
Graveshamupto2026.KeydevelopmentsitesincludeGravesendtown
centreandCanalBasinandNorthfleetEmbankment.Ebbsfleet
InternationalStationislocatedinthewestoftheboroughandwillform
thefocusofamajormixedusedevelopment.Thiswillincludea
businessdistrictwhichwillcreateupto20,000newjobs.
LikeDartford,Graveshamsexistingroadnetworkisalreadyoperating
atclosetomaximumcapacityduringpeakperiods.Continuingmodal
shifttorailandbusservicesisthereforecrucialiffuturelevelsof
housingandeconomicgrowtharetobeaccommodated.
ThekeytransportchallengesforGraveshamare:
1 Transferringexistingandnewcartripsontopublictransport,walking
andcycling,especiallyforshortjourneys 1 TacklingcongestionhotspotsincludingtheA2corridorincludingthe BeanInterchange;B262HallRoad/SpringheadRoad;andGravesend towncentre 1 Integratingrailservicesandimprovingconnectivitybetweenstations

GreenGridlinkstoShorneWoodCountryPark. RedevelopmentoftheCanalBasinarea,includingimprovementsto OrdnanceRoadjunction.

23

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

GraveshamiscentrallylocatedwithinThamesGatewayKentand
benefitsfromdirectaccesstotheA2trunkroadandtheHighSpeed1
railline,whichprovidefastroutestoLondon,theChannelPortsand
therestoftheUK.ThecommencementofSoutheasternHighSpeed
railservicesin2009broughtadramaticimprovementinjourneytimes
tothecapitalfromGravesend(23minutes)andEbbsfleetInternational
(17minutes).Theboroughskeytransportlinktothenorthisviathe
A282DartfordCrossing,althoughasmallpassengerferryoperates
betweenGravesendandTilburyinEssex.

tomaximisethebenefitsofSoutheasternHighSpeedservices Providingsufficienttransportinfrastructuretomitigatetheimpactof theplanneddevelopmentincludingwalkingandcyclingroutes

Figure6.5KentThamesidetransportandregenerationschemes

24

Swale
MajorroadinfrastructureincludingSittingbourneNorthernReliefRoad andextensiontotheA2,A2/M2Junction5capacityimprovement, A249GrovehurstInterchangeandRushendenReliefRoad. ExpansionofKentScienceParkwithpossiblenewlinktotheM2 (south)andA2(north).

TheBoroughiswellservedbytheroadandrailnetworks.TheM2
providesfastjourneytimesintoLondonandthewiderSouthEastand
therecentlycompletedSheppeyCrossinghasreduceddisruptionon
theA249toandfromtheIsleofSheppey.TheA2runsparalleltothe
M2andconnectsSittingbournewiththeMedwaytownsandFaversham.
FollowingthesamealignmentistheNorthKentrailwaylinelinking
Faversham,SittingbourneandtheMedwaytownswithLondon.The
newSoutheasternHighSpeedserviceshavecutjourneytimesbetween
SittingbourneandLondonfrom69minutesto53minutes.Sheernessis
locatedonabranchlinefromSittingbourne.TheA251providesthe
onlydirectroadlinkbetweenFavershamandAshford,includingaccess
toemergencyhospitalservicesfortheeasternpartofSwale.
ThekeytransportchallengesforSwaleare:
1 Securingthenecessaryinfrastructuretoopenupkeydevelopment
areasforhousingandemployment 1 Deliveringcapacityimprovementsonthestrategicroadnetwork 1 RegenerationofSittingbournetowncentre

Grovehurst Interchange

SittingbourneNorthern ReliefRoad EastHall Extension

A2 Extension KentSciencePark

CrownCopyright.Allrightsreserved1000192382010

25

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

TheBoroughofSwaleislocatedinNorthKent,coveringSittingbourne
asthemainpopulationcentreandthetownsofFavershamand
Sheerness.BothSheernessandSittingbournehavesufferedfromhigh
unemploymentinrecentyearsandthereforethepriorityfortheareais
economicregenerationandemploymentgrowth.Thewesternpartof
Swale(includingtheIsleofSheppey)formspartoftheThamesGateway
GrowthAreaand9,500newdwellingsareplannedby2026.

Proposals

7.TheChannelCorridor:relievingthepressure

Issue: crosschanneldisruptionwhenOperationStackis implementedcoststheUKhaulageindustry 1mperday provisionofalorryparkbetweenjunctions10and11 oftheM20 reducedelaystolocaltrafficandproblemslinkedto unsuitableHGVparking 2560mfundedfromforeignlorrychargingscheme predicteddoublingoffreighttrafficthroughtheport ofDover bifurcationofporttraffic(EasternDocksviaM2/A2, WesternDocksviaM20) reducedcongestionandpollutionthroughDover, regenerationoftowncentre 440m475m employmentopportunitiesthattheportbringsbutalsosuffersfrom thecongestion,severanceandairqualityproblemsassociatedwith queuingtrafficfromtheEasternDocks. Therewasasignificantandcontinuedincreaseinroadfreightthrough thePortofDoverandChannelTunnelbetweentheTunnelsopeningin 1994andtherecessionin2008.Whenthecountryseconomypicksup again,continuedgrowth,inlinewithGDP,isforecasttoresumeat DoverandtheChannelTunnel.Wethereforefullyrecognisethe importanceoftheChannelCorridortoUKplc.

Action: Outcome: Cost: Issue: Action: Outcome: Cost:

DoverWesternDocksExpansion
DoverHarbourBoardhasdevelopeda30yearplanfortheportsoit canaccommodatetheforecastincreaseincrosschanneltraffic.Anew ferryterminal(T2)intheWesternDockscouldprovideuptofournew ferryberthswiththepossibilityofreintroducingrailfreight connections.Furtherimprovementsincludeanewmarinaintheouter harbourandrelatedwaterfrontdevelopment,includingexpansionofthe busycruiseterminal.SincethenewterminalattheWesternDockswill takesometimetobeimplemented,interimmeasurestodealwith trafficcontinuingtousetheEasternDocksincluderevisingtheA20 dockexitandupgradingBerth5toaccommodatelargervessels.The proposedexpansionofDoversWesternDockswillleadtothe creationof6,000jobs,withrelatedproductivityandGVAbenefits.

TherearefewpeopleinKentwhoareunaffectedbytheCountysrole asaninternationalcorridor.Wearefortunatetohaveconvenient accesstotheContinent,whetherforbusinessorpleasurebutwealso havetosufferthetrafficthatusesthiscorridor.Roadfreightis significantandoneinfourvehiclesontheM20betweenMaidstoneand Ashfordisalorry.WhenOperationStackisinforce,itmakesusall realisehowfragileourtransportnetworkis.Doveristhelargest passengerferryportinNorthernEuropeandhandlesmorethanhalfof alltheUKsinternationalferrypassengers.Thetownbenefitsfromthe

M2/A2ImprovementsatDover
FreightandpassengertrafficthroughthePortofDoverisforecastto growsubstantiallyoverthenext30years,placingfurtherpressureon theM20/A20andM2/A2corridors.ThenewLowerThamesCrossingis

26

Dartford

MEDWAY
Gravesend
A2
2014 2012

26

Margate Herne Bay Whistable


A2 99 A2

A228

A229

A2
A 249

Faversham

8
A2 56

2019+

Sittingbourne
A251

Ramsgate

M26
M25

Canterbury
A25 7

A25

A20
A20 M2 0
Ph 2

A25

Maidstone
A27 A22 4 9

A264

A26

Ashford
A2

A262

Ph 1
0 A2 07
Proposed Lorr y Park

Dover
Folkestone

Tunbridge Wells
A2 8

Congested Junctions Trunk Road Improvements Operation Stack

Figure7.1TheChannelCorridor

A2

59

A2

Tonbridge

58

A2

A256

A2

Sevenoaks

A2

A252

Deal

27

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

Sheerness

A22 7
A2 0

A2

A21

28
1

partofawiderpackageofschemesproposedbyKCCanditspartners whichmustbedeliveredcollectivelyifwearetoreapthemaximum growthandproductivitybenefits. Oneofthemostimportantoftheseschemesisthebifurcationoftraffic travellingtoandfromDover.Thiswouldbemadepossiblebythe provisionofaLowerThamesCrossingbetweenChadwelland GravesendandwouldallowtrafficheadingforDoversEasternDocks tobedirectedviatheM2/A2,therebyrelievingpressureontheM20. ThiswouldrequireimprovementstotheM2/A2routeincludingdualling ashortlengthoftheA2northofthetownbetweenLyddenandthe Whitfieldroundabout.Thisisessentialtomaximisethedevelopment potentialofthePortofDoverandpresentsanopportunitytodeal effectivelywithstrategiclongdistancelorryroutingtotheM11andthe Midlands.BifurcationwillalsofacilitatethegrowthofWhitfield,Ashford andMaidstonebyfreeingupcapacityontheM20.

LorryPark(OperationStack)
OneofthegreatestdisbenefitsofKentsgatewayroleistheimposition ofOperationStackontheM20.Thiscausesimmensedisruptionacross awideareaandsendsmuchneededinwardinvestmentelsewhere. DelayscausedbyOperationStackcosttheUKhaulageindustry 1millionadayandsignificantlyreducetheattractivenessofEastKent asaplacetodobusiness.ThemanagementofOperationStackalready costsKentPoliceandtheHighwaysAgencysome3millionayearand withrisingfreightandpassengervolumes,itislikelythatitsimposition willbecomemorefrequentoverthenextfewyears,causingalocal inconveniencetobecomeanationalproblem. Inresponse,theCountyCouncilhasdevelopedplansforapossible lorryparknearAldingtonbetweenJunctions10and11onthesouth sideoftheM20.Itwouldbearealopportunitytoprovide500secure overnightparkingspacesforHGVsandanoverflowareaforupto 2,500additionalHGVsduringOperationStack.Theproposedlorry parkwillsignificantlyreducethedisruptionanddelaycausedby OperationStackandencouragebusinessestolookagainatEastKentas aplacetolocateandgrow.Itwillalsoreducethelevelofillegaland unsuitableHGVparkingintheCounty.TheCountyCounciliscurrently investigatinghowthisproposalcouldbefunded,includingworkingwith Governmenttointroduceasystemofforeignlorrycharging. Inadditiontothelorrypark,therearekeylocationswithinDover wherenetworkresiliencecouldbeenhancedthroughproactive networkmanagementparticularlytheM2/A2andM20/A20in relationtoIncidentManagementandprovisionofappropriateVariable MessageSigning(VMS)alongthiscorridor,theM25andbeyondand thesewillbeinvestigated.

Figure7.2ProposedLorryParkLocationatAldington

28

ForeignLorryCharging
TheCountyCouncilhassetoutproposalstointroduceachargefor foreign lorries usingKentsroadstocontributetothecostoftheLower Thames Crossing,the Operation Stack lorry park and other infrastructure improvementswhichwillmitigatetheimpactofcrossChanneltraffic. AchargewouldalsohelptoleveltheplayingfieldforUKhauliersvis vistheirforeigncounterparts,manyofwhichenterBritainwithfullfuel tanks,havingtakenadvantageofthelowerratesoffueldutyonthe Continent.Theythereforemakenocontributiontothecoststhey incurinthiscountrythroughdamagetoroads,thereleaseofemissions andtheexacerbationofcongestionproblems.KCCisdelightedatthe CoalitionGovernmentscommitment,initsNationalInfrastructure Plan,tointroduceaschemeoflorrychargingandwewillworkwiththe DepartmentforTransporttoimplementitasswiftlyaspossible.

Eurotunnel GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent
29
The ChannelTunnel offersadirectalternativetoDoverforinternational carandlorrymovements,takingsome40%and33%ofthemarket respectivelyin2008.Competitionwiththeferrieshaskeptthecostsof crossingtheChannelrelativelylowand,togetherwiththeshortand frequent crossing,has meant that Kent attracts a high level of international traffic.TheTunnelhasgood,directaccesstoandfromtheM20butthe benefits of this are negated when there is majordisruptionintheChannel and OperationStackisrequired.Theoretically,Eurotunnelcould operate more shuttles which could relieve some of the pressure on Dover.

InternationalRailServices
TheEuropeanUnionsliberalisationofinternationalrailtravelin2010 enablestrainoperatingcompaniestorunservicesincompetitionwith EurostarbetweenLondonandtheContinent.TheGermanoperator, DeutscheBahn,isthefirsttoreceivepermissiontodosoandintends tocommenceservicestoAmsterdamandFrankfurtviaBrusselsin December2013.KCCspriorityistoensurethatEbbsfleetandAshford continuetobenefitfromfrequentservicestoarangeofnorthern EuropeandestinationsandwewilllobbyEurostarandDeutscheBahn toincludeaKentstationstoponasmanyoftheirservicesaspossible.

OvernightLorryParks
InadditiontoOperationStack,overnightlorriesparkinginresidential andcommercialareashaveadetrimentalimpactonKentandits communities.KCCwilllobbyfortheprovisionofovernightlorry parkingandassociatedfacilitiesatsuitablesitesadjacenttoKent's motorwayandtrunkroadnetwork,includingthepossibilityofusing ParkandRidesitesforovernightlorryparking.Wewillalsoworkwith otheragenciestoreducetheoccurrenceofinappropriatelorryparking onKent'sroads.

Road/RailTerminals
Wearegenerallysupportiveofstrategicroad/railterminalsiftheyare placedintherightlocationandwillgenuinelytransferfreightfromroad torail.Asaresult,theCountyCouncilsupportedtheproposed redevelopmentofa64hectaresiteatHowburyParkinErithasitis welllocatedclosetoLondonandtheM25.However,theCounty CouncilstronglyopposedtheproposalsfortheKentInternational Gateway(KIG),locatedtotheeastofMaidstoneas,amongstother things,itwasover20milesfromtheM25andwouldnothaverelieved themostcongestedwesternpartoftheM20oflorrytraffic.

QuickMoveableBarrier(QMB)Extension
TheQuickMoveableBarrier(QMB)canonlycopewithPhaseOneof OperationStack,holdingsome400lorrieswhich,atpeaktimes,canbe filledwithintwohours.TheHighwaysAgencyiscurrentlyreviewingthe performanceoftheQMBandwillrecommendwhetherthescheme shouldbeexpanded.Wecontinuetopressforthetimetakentoeffect theQMBtobesignificantlyreduced.

Stansted Airport (66 mins)

Stratford

Southend (50 mins)

London
Ebbsfleet
Canterbury (22 mins)

Thanet (43 mins)

Ashford
Folkestone (20 mins) Hastings (42 mins)

Dover (32 mins)

Calais Frethun

Dunkerque (50 mins)

Kortrijk (30 mins)

To Brussels
Boulogne (38 mins)

Lille

maximumlevelreachedwasbarelyoverthreemilliontonnesin1998. Duetoproblemswithillegalimmigrantsboardingtrainsandthepoor levelofservicequalityinFrance,theflowhasdeclinedto1.24million tonnesin2008butthereisthepotentialtoreconnecttheWestern DocksatDovertotherailnetwork.Wewillcontinuetopress centralandinternationalgovernmenttoputmorefreightthroughthe ChannelTunnel.Wewillworkwiththefreightindustrytoidentify potentiallegislativeandphysicalbarriersfortransferringfreightfrom roadtorailandassist,wherepossible,inidentifyingsolutionsto overcomesuchbarriers.

Douai (27 mins)

MajorInfrastructureinAshfordandDover
AspartofthegrowthofAshford,anumberoftransportimprovements havebeenidentified.SomehavealreadybeenawardedGovernment fundingthroughmechanismssuchastheRegionalInfrastructureFund, withlocalcontributionsfromtheCountyCouncilanddevelopers. Howeverotherswillrequiremoreinnovativefundingmodelsgiventhe reducedpublicfundingnowavailable.Theseschemesinclude: SmartlinkaBusRapidTransit(BRT)schemewhichwillprovidefast, frequent,highqualitybusservicesforAshfordsresidentsand commuters.Theservicewillbenefitfromdedicatedbuspriority measuresandwilllinkthetowncentretothenewdevelopmentand parkandridesites,aswellasexistingcommunities. TheWarrenParkandRideoneofthreeproposedParkandRide sitesdesignedtocomplementtheSmartlinkBRTscheme.TheWarren willbelocatedadjacenttoJunction9oftheM20andbeaccompanied bytheprovisionofbusprioritymeasurestoofferarapidanddirect routeintothetowncentre;

0
Aprrox Scale

50km

Arras (41 mins)

To Paris

Figure7.3LocalConnectionstotheTransmancheMetro

TransmancheMetro
Thereisarealopportunitytoenhanceinternationalrailservicesby utilisingtheintermediatestationsonbothsidesoftheChannelwitha semifastrailserviceconnectingintoEuropeanwideservices. Therewouldbearegularintervalservice(workinguptohourly)linking StPancras,Stratford,Ebbsfleet,Ashford,CalaisFrethunandLille. PassengerscouldconnectatLilleforBrusselsandintoHollandand Germany,fromCalaistotheFrenchcoastaltownsandatSt Pancras/KingsCrossforthenorthandeastofEngland.

RailFreight
DespitetheprovisionofrailfreightservicesthroughtheChannel Tunnel,themodalshareinKentisdisappointinglylow.Estimatesarethat 6milliontonnesofrailfreightcouldusetheChannelTunnel,butthe

30

VictoriaWay anewroutetothesouthofthetowncentrewhich willlinkBeaverRoadandtheA28ChartRoad.Workiscurrently underwayonthisscheme,whichisdueforcompletioninSpring2011; M20Junction9andDroversRoundaboutwhichwillimprove accesstothetown;particularlytheEurekaParkbusinessareaand residentialdevelopmentssuchasReptonPark.Theschemewillinclude theintroductionoftrafficsignals,thewideningofapproachroadsand theconstructionofanewfootbridgeovertheM20.Workiscurrently inprogressandwillbecompletedinSpring2011; M20Junction10A providingthenecessaryhighwaycapacityto serveandsupportthenewdevelopmentsitestothesouthandeast ofAshford; LearningLink anorthsouthcycling/walkingroutelinkingaseriesof educationalestablishments; A28Kennington/BybrookCorridorcycling,pedestrianandbus improvements; RomanWayCorridor newlinkroad; AshfordInternationalStationImprovements comprisinganew stationforecourtandpublicspacetocomplementtherecently completedworkstothetickethall.Theschemewillincludea revitalisedbusandtaxiinterchange,extensivecycleparking,the provisionofadditionalseatingandlandscaping; DoverBusRapidTransit TheDoverBusRapidTransit(BRT) schemeisaproposedserviceconnectingWhitfieldtoDoverTown Centreandispartofthemasterplanfor5,750newhomesatWhitfield.

SouthEastMaidstoneStrategicLink(SEMSL) Maidstone BoroughCouncilhasidentified,throughitsLocalDevelopment Framework,thepotentialfornewdevelopmenttothesoutheastofthe town.ThiscouldrequireamoredirectroutefromtheA274,serving thecommercialareaaroundParkwoodandnewdevelopmentatthe A20/M20Junction8whichwouldalsoactasabypasstoLeedsand Langley.TheSEMSLdoesnotappeartobeaffordablebyconventional funding,andwouldrequirenewsourcesoffundingcurrentlyemerging fromGovernment,suchastheNewHomesBonus.

31

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

Itisplannedtorunonadedicatedroutethroughthevarious developmentsitesinWhitfieldandtheConnaughtBarracks,linkingto thetowncentre,DoverPrioryrailwaystationandtheStJames regenerationarea,withapossibleextensiontoaParkandRidesite atFarthingloe.KCCandDoverDistrictCouncilarecurrently preparingadetailedbusinesscasefortheschemeandidentifying suitablefundingoptions;

Ashford
ThestrategicpositionofAshfordontheChannelcorridorhasmeant thatthetownhasalwaysbeenamajortransporthub.TheM20runs throughthetownandaccessisprovidedviajunctions9and10.Ashford alsobecamearailwaytown,beingthejunctionoffivelinestoHastings, Folkestone,Canterbury,MaidstoneandTonbridgeandisalsoservedby HighSpeedOnewithaninternationalrailwaystation.Ashfordhas benefitedfromreducedjourneytimeswhenSoutheasternHighSpeed servicescommencedinDecember2009,withthequickestjourneytime toLondoncutto37minutesfrom84minutes. Becauseofitsstrategiclocation,goodtransportlinksandagenerallyflat topography,AshfordisoneoftheSouthEastregionsfourdesignated GrowthAreas,withthecapacitytoprovideanadditional31,000homes and28,000jobsovertheperiod2001to2031.Thisequalsadoublingin thenumberofhouseholdswithinthetowncentreareaby2031.Itis plannedforAshfordtodevelopasanoffice,researchandbusinessnode providingmarketgrowthforEastKentandanopportunityforlarge investmentsthatrequireanexpandingworkforce. ThekeytransportchallengesforAshfordare: 1 SecuringroadaccessfromdevelopmentsitestotheM20 1 Developingahighqualitypublictransportnetworktoconnectthe growthareaswiththetowncentre,theinternationalstationand otherkeylocations 1 Providingachoiceoftransportmodesforresidents 1 Creatingahighqualitypublicrealminthetowncentre

Proposals
SmartlinkBusRapidTransitsystemconnectingthegrowthareasand outoftownParkandRidesiteswiththetowncentre,international stationandcomplementaryexpandedbusnetworkandcyclingfacilities. Greenspacesandtheexistingroadnetworkincorporatingwalkingand cyclingroutesaswellaspromotionofAshfordasacyclingtown.

P&R

LearningLink Corridor

Victoria Way

A28Kennington/Bybrook Corridor

J10A
LinkRoad

P&R
ProposedSmartlink P&R ProposedPark& Ridesite

Roman Way
CrownCopyright.Allrightsreserved1000192382010

32

Dover
ExpansionofWesternDocks,seafrontdevelopmentandrelatedaccess improvementstotheA20withbifurcationofporttrafficviaM20/A20 (WesternDocks)andM2/A2(EasternDocks). DuallingoftheA2fromLyddentoDover. BusRapidTransit(BRT)systembetweenWhitfield,Dovertowncentre andtherailwaystationcomplementinganenhancedbusnetwork.

WestWhitfield GrowthArea EastWhitfield GrowthArea

ThekeytransportchallengesforDoverare: 1 IncreasingcrossChannelfreighttrafficusingtheportcausing congestionandpollutionontheA20andseverance 1 Delivering1014,000newhomesaspartofthetownsGrowthPoint status,whichwillrequireimprovementstotheA2 1 Providingbetteraccessibilitytothetowncentreandrailwaystation tomaximisethebenefitsofSoutheasternHighSpeedservices 1 RegeneratingtheoldcollierysitesaroundAyleshamandSnowdown andsupportinggrowthintheSandwichcorridor 1 ReduceHS1journeytimesfromDoverPriorytoLondontounder anhour

PotentialRoute ofDoverBRT

DoverPriory

PortProposals

CrownCopyright.Allrightsreserved1000192382010

33

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

DoverisbestknownastheUKsgatewaytotheContinent,beingthe countrysbusiestferryport.Thiscanoftenleadtotrafficcongestion alongtheA20TownwallStreet,causingpollutionandseverancebetween thetownandseafront.Thisisexacerbatedwhendisruptioncauses crossChannelservicestobesuspendedandOperationStackisput intooperation.ThemostdirectrailservicetoLondonisviathe FolkestonelinewhichconnectswithservicesfromAshford.Thereare alsolinesthatconnecttothenorthKentlineviaCanterburyanda coastallinetoDeal,SandwichandThanet.SoutheasternHighSpeed serviceswereintroducedinDecember2009,reducingthejourneytime from116minutesto67minutes.Thisisstartingtohelpcreatethe foundationsforatransformationintheeconomicgeographyofDover. Itisanticipatedthatfurtherimprovementsinjourneytimetogether withadditionalparkingandatDoverPriorystationwillberealisedto supporttherecentpublicrealmworks.

Proposals

Maidstone
MaidstoneistheCountyTownofKentandadesignatedGrowthPoint.
Thetowncentrecurrentlyexperiencesseverecongestion,particularly
wherethreeAroadsmeetatthebridgegyratorysystem.Thelaunch
oftheCountyCouncilsTrafficManagementCentrehasimprovedthe
operationofMaidstoneshighwaynetwork,reducingaveragejourney
timesbyover10%since2006throughtheactivemanagementoftraffic
signals,theuseofcarparkguidancesystems,andtheprovisionoflive
trafficinformationtoroadusers.
Thereisalargevolumeofinboundtrafficheadingforthetownsoffices,
shopsandschoolseveryday.Thesemovementsareservedbyan
extensivebusnetwork,includingthreePark&Ridesitesrunbythe
BoroughCouncil.Outboundcommutingtakesplaceontheregularrail
servicetoLondonviaMaidstoneEast.
ThekeytransportchallengesforMaidstoneare:
1 Tacklingcongestionhotspotsandareasofpoorairquality,
particularlyinthetowncentreandontheAroadsintoMaidstone. 1 Providingmultimodalaccesstoaproposedurbanextensionof 56,000homestothesouthandeastofthetown. 1 Maintainingaccessibilitytothetowncentrebypublictransport. 1 Maintainingandenhancingrailservices,particularlytotheCity ofLondon.

Proposals
DeveloperledhighwayimprovementstoM20junctions7and8. Extensionofbuslanestoservetheproposedurbanextensions. AdditionalPark&Ridesitestoassistinreducingcongestioninthe towncentre. Improvedwalkingandcyclingnetworks,supportedbyTravelPlan requirementsfornewmajordevelopments. ParkwaystationnearHollingbournetocomplementThameslink servicestotheCityofLondonfrom2018andtoreducecongestionon theM20aroundMaidstone.
PossiblePark&Ride Site(Sandling)

P&R
ProposedSouth EastMaidstone StrategicLink

TownCentre Congestionand PoorAirQuality

CrownCopyright.Allrightsreserved1000192382010

34

Shepway
ParkwaystationatWestenhangerandimprovementstoFolkestone Weststation. Improvedpublictransporttodevelopmentsites,existinginterurban routesandexpansionoftheurbanbusnetwork.

FolkestonehasgoodroadaccesstoLondonandthewiderSouthEast viatheM20,theA20andtheA259,andregularrailservicestoLondon andDover.Thetownhasbenefitedfromtheintroductionof SoutheasternHighSpeedservicesinDecember2009,withjourney timeshavingbeencutfrom101minutesto57minutes.TheChannel TunnelfacilityislocatedtothenorthofFolkestoneatCheriton. ThekeytransportchallengesforFolkestoneare: 1 TheimpactofOperationStackonthelocalroadnetwork 1 MaximisingthebenefitsofSoutheasternHighSpeedservicesand managingtheimpactonlocaljourneypatterns 1 Supportingtheregenerationproposalsfortheseafrontaspartofthe FolkestoneHarbourandSeafrontMasterplan,withbetteraccessto theseafrontfromthetowncentre 1 Providingpublictransportaccesstoandfromproposed developmentsitesinWestHythe,LympneandShorncliffe.

Folkestone WestStation Harbourand SeaFront

CrownCopyright.Allrightsreserved1000192382010

35

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

ShepwayislocatedwithintheChannelcorridor,hencethemain transportissuesrelatetotheimpactofinternationaltraffic.Folkestone isthemainurban,retailandcommercialcentreinShepwaywithHythe andSandgatelocatedalongthecoast,Hawkinge,whichliesonthe NorthDowns,andvarioustownsandvillagesdottedaroundthe RomneyMarsh.LikemanyofthecoastaltownsinKent,Folkestonehas sufferedfromseveraldecadesofeconomicdecline,duemainlytothe lossofseasidetrade.Ithasalsoexperiencedthewithdrawalofcross ChannelferryservicesasaresultofcompetitionfromtheChannel TunnelandthePortofDover.Furthermore,thetowncentreisfacing increasedcompetitionfromneighbouringshoppingcentres,with leakageoftradetoCanterburyandAshford.

Proposals

8.WestKent:cuttingcongestionalongtheA21corridor

Issue: Action: Outcome: Cost: congestionanddelayonA21nearTunbridgeWellsand Tonbridge,pooraccessibilitytoHastings duallingofA21betweenTonbridgeandPembury improvedjourneytimesandreducedcongestionfor businesses,improvedsafetyforroadusers est.45mfundedfromNationalRoadsProgramme DevolvingHighwaysAgencybudgetsandpowerstolocaltransport authoritieswouldprovideacheaperandfasterwayofdelivering strategicroadinfrastructure.TheKenteconomyhassuffered repeatedlyfromdelaystoHighwaysAgencyprojects,includingthe duallingoftheA21betweenTonbridgeandPembury.Althoughworkwas finallyduetostartonthisschemein2011,ithasnowbeendelayed oncemorebeyond2015pendingfurtherconsiderationbythe DepartmentforTransportandwillthereforenotbecompletedintime fortheopeningofthenewPemburyHospital.Webelievethatthe schemecanbedeliveredforlessthanhalfitscurrentcost throughlocalprojectmanagementandprocurement.The CoalitionGovernmenthasagreedtoworkwithustoinvestigatethe benefitsofthisapproachandwewillprogressthesediscussions immediately.WealsowanttoseefurtherimprovementstotheA21to supporttheregenerationofHastings.

TheWestKentareacomprisesthedistrictsofTunbridgeWells, Tonbridge&MallingandSevenoaksandfeaturesanumberofmedium sized towns includingSwanley,Sevenoaks,TonbridgeandTunbridgeWells, interspersedwithsmallersettlementsandtractsofopencountryside.It isaveryattractiveareainwhichtoliveandworkandisgenerallymore prosperousthanotherpartsofKentthankstoitscloseproximityto London.However,economicgrowthinWestKenthasincreasingly laggedbehindmanyotherareasintheSouthEastinrecentyearsand theareasGVApercapitaisonly74%oftheSouthEastaverage. OneofthekeyreasonsforWestKentsdecliningeconomicposition relativetootherpartsofKentandthewiderSouthEastisitspoor transportconnectivity;particularlypeaktimecongestiononinterurban routessuchastheA21,A26andA228.Theareastraditionalrail connectivityadvantagetoLondonhasalsobeendiminishedbythe commencementofHighSpeedrailservicesfromNorthandEastKent toLondon.ThesehavemadecommuterjourneytimesfromAshford, FolkestoneandCanterburycomparablewiththosetoTonbridgeand TunbridgeWells,andsignificantlybetterthanthosetoMaidstone.This situationrequiresurgentactionifWestKentistoregainitsprevious economicstrength.

36

ThelossofdirectrailservicesbetweentheCityofLondon,Maidstone andWestMallinghasforcedcommutersfromtheseareastotravelby roadtoTonbridge,HildenboroughandSevenoaks,whichhaveretained theirCannonStreetservices.Thishasinturnaddedtoexisting overcrowdingproblemsonrailservicestoandfromTonbridge. SoutheasternhasplanstoimprovetheserviceontheTonbridge HastingslinewhenthenewThameslinkprogrammecommencesin 2018.TheHastingstrainswouldjoinanddivideatTonbridge,providing fastandslowportionsalongthelinebetweenTonbridgeandHastings. Thiswouldimprovejourneytimesforrailpassengersfromprincipal stationsontheline,whilestillprovidingaslowerserviceforthe smallerstations. Anotherkeyaspirationisthereintroductionofdirectservices betweenKentandGatwickAirport,followingthecessationofservices fromTunbridgeWellsandTonbridgeviaRedhillin2008.Anewservice wouldneedtobedemonstratedasviableandeconomicalintimefor therenewaloftheexistingSouthernfranchisein2015.

ColtsHill
TheA228ColtsHillbypassschemeisrequiredtocompleteahigh standardandsaferoutebetweentheM20andtheA21andlinkstothe A21TonbridgetoPemburyduallingproposal.TheA228atColtsHill currentlysuffersfrompoorvisibilityandconcealedentrances

37

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

WewillcontinuetosupporttheA21ReferenceGroupofMPs,Council Leadersandheadsofpublicserviceswhichispressingfortheurgent duallingoftheA21betweenTonbridgeandPemburyandKippingsCross toLamberhurst.Thesemeasureswillsupportbusinessgrowth, regenerationandaccesstoservicesintheA21corridorfrom SevenoaksthroughtoHastings.

whichcontributetoitspooraccidentrecordandseverepeak timecongestion. TheschemewouldincorporateasinglecarriagewaybypassofColtsHill village,withaclimbinglaneinthesouthbounddirection.Theproposed bypasswouldaddresstheseissues,whilstalsoenhancingaccesstothe newPemburyHospitalfromMaidstone.Thisisparticularlyimportant giventheplannedtransferofanumberofmedicalunitstoPembury fromMaidstoneHospitalwhenthesitebecomesfullyoperationalin 2011.Theschemewouldalsomakeasignificantcontributiontothe plannedimprovementofbusservicesontheMaidstonetoTunbridge Wellscorridorandassistwithsubregionalintegration.KCChas submittedtheschemeforCentralGovernmentfundingonanumberof occasionssince2003;howeverithassofarbeenunsuccessful.

Sevenoaks
ThedistrictofSevenoaksbordersGreaterLondontothenorthwest, SurreytothewestandSussextothesouth.Itislargelyruralinnature withmostoftheDistrictdesignatedasGreenBelt(93%)andtwoAreas ofOutstandingNaturalBeauty(AONB).Therearethreemainurban areasintheDistrict:Sevenoaks,SwanleyandEdenbridge.TheDistrictis welllocatedintermsofitsproximitytoLondonandtheContinent, withanumberofmajortransportlinksrunningthroughoralongsideit, includingtheM25,M26andM20motorways.Railwaysprovidelinksto LondonandAshford. ThekeytransportchallengesforSevenoaksare: 1 Existingandforecastovercrowdingonpeaktrainservicestoand fromLondon 1 Achievingarebalancingofthetransportnetworkinfavourof noncarmodesasameansofaccesstoservicesandfacilities.
1 Workingtowardsanimprovedandintegratednetworkofpublic
transportservicesinandbetweenbothurbanandruralareas.
1 Reducingtheimpactoftrafficonthenaturalandhistoric environmentofthemainurbanareas. 1 Tacklingthe11AirQualityManagementAreas(AQMAs)in theDistrict. 1 AddressingcongestionhotspotsinSevenoaksandSwanleytown centres,andontheA25andtheA225.

Proposals
ProvisionofeastfacingslipsontheM25/M26toenabletraffic approachingfromthesouthtotraveleastontheM26andM25. DevelopmentofUrbanTrafficManagementandControl(UTMC) tomaximiseefficientuseoftheexistingroadnetworkandimprove airquality. Buslanesandbusprioritymeasurestoimprovethecommercialviability ofoperatingbusesto,fromandwithintheSevenoaksDistrict. Extendandimprovewalkingandcyclingroutes. Improvedcommunityandvoluntarytransportoptions. EnsuringreliableandimprovedservicesforrailcommutersintoLondon fromSevenoaks.
EastFacingSlipsat M25J5

Riverhead Congestion

Sevenoaks Congestion

CrownCopyright.Allrightsreserved1000192382010

38

TonbridgeandMalling
Coordinatedimplementationoftransportrequirementsarisingfrom developmentsintheMedwayValley,includingnewbusservices supportedbybusprioritymeasuresfocussedontheA20corridor. ConstructionofabypassatBoroughGreen. ConstructionoftheLondonRoadHadlowRoadlinkinTonbridge. KeytransportchallengesforTonbridge&Mallingare: 1 Dealingwiththetransportimplicationsoftherangeof developmentsintheBorough,particularlyintheMedwayValleyand incentralTonbridge. 1 ImprovingairqualityinanumberofdeclaredAQMAsarisingfrom trafficrelatedfactors,includingalongstretchoftheA20and Tonbridgetowncentre. 1 EnhancingstationfacilitiesandrailconnectionstotheCityof LondonontheWestMalling/MaidstoneEastLineandtackling overcrowdingontheTonbridgeline. 1 ImprovingtransportinterchangeatTonbridgeandWestMalling stationsandaddressingthelackofparkingatWestMallingand Hildenboroughstations. 1 ReinstatingdirectrailservicesbetweentheBoroughandGatwick AirportontheTonbridgeRedhillLine. 1 MinimisingtheadverseimpactsofHGVtraffic,including overnightparking 1 MitigatingtheimpactsoftrafficontheA25corridorthroughPlatt, BoroughGreenandIghtham. UrbanTrafficManagementandControlsystemforTonbridge. ImplementActionPlantodealwithAQMAs. WorkwithNetworkRailandtheTrainOperatingCompaniesinthe areatoenhanceopportunitiesfortransportinterchangeatstationsand improveservices,particularlytotheCityofLondon,withparticular focusontheservicespecificationforthenextIntegratedKent Franchiseperiodbeyond2014. A228CorridorImprovementsincludingatKentStreet,Snodland bypassandatColtsHillinneighbouringTunbridgeWellsBoroughto relievetheA26corridor.

39

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

TheBoroughofTonbridgeandMallinghasapopulationof approximately112,000andcoversanareaofjustover24,000hectares. TheBoroughdoesnothaveasingleurbanfocusbutiscomprisedofa numberofdiverse,contrastingsettlementsandneighbourhoods. AconsiderableareaoftheBoroughisruralincharacter.TheM20 motorway,akeynationallink,cutsthroughthemiddleoftheBorough andhasimportantimplicationsfortrafficpatternsonthelocalnetwork.

Proposals

TunbridgeWells
TunbridgeWellsBoroughisanareaof326squarekilometresbordering Sevenoaks,Tonbridge&Malling,MaidstoneandAshfordinKent;and RotherandWealdeninEastSussex.ThetownofRoyalTunbridgeWells isthemainurbancentreinthedistrict,providingsocial,culturaland economicopportunities.Southborough,PaddockWood,Cranbrook, Hawkhurstand17villagesservetheextensiveruralpopulation. TheBoroughbenefitsfromagoodrailservicetoTonbridge,Sevenoaks andLondon,abusnetworkthatcoversboththeurbanandruralareas andgoodprovisionofcarparkingfacilitieswithinthetowncentres, manyofwhicharefreeinthemoreruraltowns. Thereareveryhighlevelsofcarownershipandusewithinthe Borough,resultingincongestionandpoorairqualityissues. Infrastructureimprovementsandincreaseduseofhighqualitypublic transport,cyclingandwalkingfacilitieshavealreadystartedtoreduce trafficcongestion,andthisisakeyareaforcontinuedimprovementin thefuture. ThekeytransportchallengesforTunbridgeWellsare: 1 AddressingcongestionhotspotsontheA21betweenTonbridge andTunbridgeWells;onthePemburyRoad;withinthe NorthFarm/LongfieldRoadindustrialarea;andontheA26within TunbridgeWellsandSouthborough. 1 TacklingAQMAsacrossthedistrict. 1 Reducingtheimpactoftrafficonthenaturalandhistoric environmentofthemainurbanareas. 1 EnsuringoptimumaccessibilitytothenewPemburyHospitalbya rangeoftraveloptionsincludingtheproposedintegratedbusandrail networks,cyclingandthecar
1

Accommodatingdevelopmentpressuresresultingfromthe Boroughslocationinthecommuterbeltinasustainableway.

Proposals
DevelopmentofUTMCtomaximiseefficientuseoftheexisting roadnetwork. ImplementPark&Ridetohelptacklecongestionandpoorairqualityin RoyalTunbridgeWellstowncentre,includingcomplementarybuslanes andbusprioritymeasures. A21PemburytoTonbridgeduallingtoimproveaccesstothenew PemburyHospitalandtheNorthFarmRetailPark. A21improvementsbetweenKippingsCrossandLamberhurstand betweenLamberhurstandFlimwell. Extendandimprovewalkingandcyclingroutes. EnsuringreliableandimprovedrailservicesforcommutersintoLondon fromTunbridgeWells. A228corridorimprovementatColtsHill.

40

9.EastKent:radicalsolutionsneeded

Action: provisionofaThanetParkwaystationtoimprove employmentopportunitiesinThanetand throughoutEastKentandimprovedlinespeeds betweenAshfordandRamsgate ~1,000jobspermillionpassengersatKIA,risingto 6,000jobsby2033increasedattractivenessofEast Kenttoemployers,reducedjourneytimesto/from Thanet,reductioninwelfarecosts ~10mforParkwaystationandupto50mforline speedenhancements

Outcome:

Cost:

HS1QuickestJourney TimestoLondonfrom: Ashford FolkestoneCentral Dover Ramsgate Canterbury Gravesend

PreHS1 (mins) 84 101 116 129 110 57

PostHS1 (mins) 37 57 67 80 56 22

EconomicregenerationisthekeypriorityinEastKentandthe regenerationpotentialofEastKentwillbedependentuponimproving theoveralllevelofaccessibilitytothisperipherallocationtotherestof theUK.

EnhancingtheBenefitsofHighSpeedRail
On13thDecember2009,SoutheasternHighSpeedservices commenced.Theseserviceshavedramaticallycutrailjourneytimesto Ebbsfleet,AshfordandotherareasofKenttoStratford(forDocklands), StPancrasandthenorthofthecountry.Theimprovedjourneytimes willhaveasignificantimpactandactasthecatalysttoregenerateparts oftheCounty,makingthemveryattractiveplacestolive,workandvisit. TheHighSpeedservicesprovidearealopportunitytopromote tourism,bringingKentsattractionsclosertovisitorsfromLondon.

41

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

Issue:

pooraccessibilitytoEastKentleadingtohigh unemploymentandsocialdisadvantageinEastKent

EastKentismadeupoftheDistrictsofCanterbury,Dover,Shepway andThanet.EastKentisperipheraltotherestoftheUKand,assuch, suffersgreaterdeprivationandsocialproblemsthanWestKentandthe southeastregiongenerally.Thecoastalareahasexperiencedthe cumulativeeffectsofadecliningferryportindustryasaconsequenceof theChannelTunnel,theaftermathoftheclosureoftheEastKentcoal fieldandthelossoftheholidaytrade.Thisperipheralitydiscourages majoremployersfromlocatingintheareaandhasresultedinanover relianceonjobsintheeducation,pharmaceuticalandportrelated sectors.Awayfromthecoast,Canterburyisthepredominantretail, culturalandeducationalcentreanditspriorityistoprotectitshistoric fabricwhileencouragingeconomicgrowth.

FurtherimprovementsarerequiredtotherailnetworkinEastKentto maximisethebenefitsofHighSpeedservices.Journeytimesonthe conventionalrailnetworkbeyondEbbsfleetandAshfordarestilllengthy andaccesstoanumberofrailstationsispoor.Weareworkingclosely withNetworkRailandSoutheasterntoensurethatthenecessary improvementsareimplemented.

perimeterofKIA,withimprovedbuslinksandlocalroadimprovements tolinktotheA299. ManyoftheexistingrailstationsinThanetandpartofDoverDistrict aredifficulttoreachbysustainabletransportandofferlimitedcar parkinganddevelopmentopportunities.Thiscausessomecommuters totravelsignificantlylongerdistancesbycartoaccessstationswith betterparkingfacilities.InitialfeasibilityanalysisbytheCountyCouncil suggeststhatthereisconsequentlyastrongbusinesscaseforaThanet ParkwaystationclosetoKIAandwewillshortlybesubmittingabid withNetworkRailtotheGovernmentsRegionalGrowthFundfor acontributiontothecapitalcostoftheproject.Wewillalso investigatethefeasibilityofdevelopingparkwaystationsatMaidstone andWestenhanger.

ThanetParkwayStation/KentInternationalAirport (KIA)
ThanetisoneofEnglandsmostdisadvantageddistricts,withhigh unemploymentratesandatotalwelfarebillof180millionayear.The areaisoverlydependentonpublicsectorandseasonalemploymentand hasnotbenefittedfullyfromthelaunchofHighSpeeddomesticrail servicestoLondon. KentInternationalAirport(Manston)hasthepotentialtodevelopintoa regionalairportandbecomeoneofthelargestsinglegeneratorsof economicactivityintheCounty.Theairportpredictsthatitwillserve around5millionpassengersandcaterfor400,000tonnesoffreightby 2033.Thiscouldgenerateover2,800jobsby2018and6,000jobsby 2033inarangeofemploymentsectors,offeringahugeboosttothe economyofEastKentthroughnewemploymentopportunitiesarising fromthegrowthoftheManstonandEurokentBusinessParks.Itsfuture growthisdependentuponandwillbedrivenbythedisplacementof trafficfromotherSouthEastairportsastheybegintooperateat capacityduetocontinuinggrowth.Wewillcontinuetopromotethe realopportunitiesatManstonandpresshardforenhancedaccessby highspeedrailservicestofacilitatetheeconomicbenefits. TheKIAdraftmasterplanproposesmajorexpansionsupportedbya parkwaystationwithHighSpeedrailservicesfromLondon,servingnot justtheairportbutalsothelocalarea.Thiswillbelocatedneartothe

76 64
Proposed Thanet Parkway Ramsgate

Canterbury

56 54

Ashford International
56 54

Existing High Speed Times Potential High Speed Times

Figure9.1HighSpeedJourneySavingstoProposed ThanetParkway

42

AshfordtoRamsgateLineSpeedImprovements
TheCountyCouncilandNetworkRailrecentlycommissionedastudy toidentifypotentiallinespeedimprovementsbetweenAshford InternationalandRamsgate.Thestudyfoundthatbyincreasingline speedsfromthecurrentmaximumof70mphtothe85mphallowedfor bycurrentsignalling,andeliminatingpermanentspeedrestrictionsat threelocations,runningtimesbetweenAshfordandRamsgatecouldbe reducedfrom36minutestoatheoreticalminimumof26minutes.This wouldseejourneytimesbetweenStPancrasandtheproposedThanet Parkwaydroptoapproximatelyanhour,whichwouldprovidea significantboosttotourismandtheregenerationoftheareaandalso enhanceaccesstoprivatesectoremploymentatAshfordandEbbsfleet. NetworkRailnowintendstoprepareafullbusinesscaseforthe scheme,whichiscurrentlyscheduledforimplementationin2014.

havesignificantregenerationbenefitsfortheareaandprovidea continuousdualcarriagewayfromLondontoThanet.

ThePortofRamsgateiswellconnectedtothenationalroadnetwork viatheA299andM2andisservedbyamodernportaccessroadthat avoidstheneedtotravelthroughheavilybuiltupareas.Acarand freightferryoperatestoOstendandtheporthasthepotentialto operateuptotwiceasmanyferrieswithoutanyadditional infrastructure,complementingtheincreasedcapacityplannedforDover. RamsgateisbeingusedinconnectionwiththeoperationoftheThanet OffshoreWindFarm,a100turbinedevelopment8milesoffthenorth eastKentcoastandisthebasefortheprojectsoperationsand maintenancecentre.TheLondonArrayprojectisamuchlarger developmentof341windturbinesmidwayoutintheThamesEstuary withaninvestmentvalueof3billion.TheLondonArraywindfarmis alsoplanningtousetheportasitgearsupforoffshoreconstruction from2011andasabaseforitsfutureoperationsandmaintenance. RamsgatehastheonlyroyalharbourintheUKanditsawardwinning marinaoffersanexcellentrangeoffacilitieswithsignificantpotentialto boostthelocaleconomyfromthesailingmarketinLondon,thesouth eastandthenearcontinent.

AshfordtoDoverLineSpeedImprovements
KCCisalsoworkingwithNetworkRailtoidentifyfurtherlinespeed improvementsbetweenAshfordandDover.Theaspirationistoreduce journeytimesbetweenLondonandDoverPriorytolessthananhour, whichisvitaltoimprovetheattractivenessofthetowntobusinesses andnewresidents.

EastKentAccessPhase2
TheEastKentAccessschemeaimstoimproveroadaccessbetweenthe A299ThanetWayandthePfizersitenearSandwich.Phase1,whichwas completedin2007,sawtheA256becomeadualcarriagewayaround thePfizersiteasfarasthedisusedRichboroughpowerstation.Phase2 iscurrentlyunderconstructionandinvolvestheimprovementofthe A299fromMountPleasantroundabouttoLordoftheManor;andthe A256fromLordoftheManorbacktoEbbsfleetLane.Thisschemewill openupdevelopmentlandinthisareaandstrengthenPfizersroleas themainemployerforthearea.Crucially,theimprovedroadaccesswill

SustainableLinkstoHighSpeedStations
Wewillcontinuewiththeawardwinningworkofintegratingboththe proposedparkwaystationsandexistinghighspeedstationswiththebus network,walkingandcyclingroutesandsupportthesewithsecure cycleparking,informationandotherfacilities.

43

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

Ramsgate

AshfordtoHastingsLineSpeedImprovements
TheeliminationofspeedrestrictionsontheAshfordtoHastingsline wouldgreatlyenhancetravelbetweenthetwotownsandto employmentintheThamesGatewayandLondon.Thishasthepotential toregenerateboththeRomneyMarshareaandHastingsinEastSussex. NetworkRailiscurrentlypreparingthebusinesscaseforthenecessary improvementworkswhicharescheduledforimplementationin2014.

LondonAshfordAirport(LAA)
LondonAshfordAirportisaninternationalairportlocatedonthe RomneyMarshnearLydd,closetotheborderwithEastSussex.It waspurposebuiltasacivilianairfieldinthe1950s,andinrecent years,over20millionhasbeenspentdevelopingandupgradingthe airportsfacilities. Theairporthasplanstoextenditsrunwayandbuildnewterminal facilitieswiththeabilitytoprovide500,000passengermovementsby 2015,capitalisingonthegrowingpassengerpreferenceforusinga regionalairportandreducingsurfacetransporttimesandcosts. Additionally75%ofallairtransportmovementsintheUKareina southeasterlydirection,thereforeLyddbringsadditionalbenefitsby beingthemostsoutheasterlyUKairport.LAAiskeentoutilisethe existingrailconnectionbetweenHastingsandAshfordbyimproving accesstoAppledoreStation,andtobetterintegratewiththebus networkwhendemandenablessustainedeconomicoperations.

44

Canterbury
GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent
45
ThecityofCanterburyisthepredominantretail,culturaland
educationalcentrewithinEastKentandaprincipalfocusforservice
industries.ItisidentifiedasaRegionalHubintheSouthEastPlan.The
citydependsonalargenetinflowofcommuterstosupportthelevelof
jobsintheareaaswellasaninfluxofsecondaryschoolchildrenand
studentsinhighereducation.Around160,000vehiclesperdaytravelto
andfromCanterburyalongthenineAandBroadsthatconvergeon
thecity.AlthoughthecityisbypassedtothesouthwestbytheA2,the
highwaynetworkisunderacutepressureand,asaresult,Canterbury
suffersfromsignificantcongestionandpoorairquality,especiallyonthe
innerringroadandradialroutes.Thiscongestionwouldbesignificantly
worsewithoutthethreePark&Ridesitesthathavebeenusedbyover
onemillionpassengerseveryyearsince2003.Therearetworailway
stationswhichservethecityandSoutheasternHighSpeedservices
commencedattheCanterburyWeststationinDecember2009,cutting
the journey time to London from approximately 90 minutes to 56 minutes.
TheCanterburyDistrictincludesthecoastaltownsofWhitstableand
HerneBay.ThetransportpriorityforWhitstableistoreducetraffic
delaysinthemainshoppingstreetsand,forHerneBay,toreducethe
amountofoutcommutingthroughregenerationofthetowncentre.
ThekeytransportchallengesforCanterburyare:
1 Reducingcongestionandimprovingairquality,particularlyalongthe
A28andtheringroad 1 Linkingtransportinvestmentandinfrastructureimprovementswith developmentplanprioritiesandstrategicdevelopmentallocations 1 Reducingtheimpactoftrafficonthehistoricenvironmentby increasingtransportchoiceandreducingcardependencyandthe needtotravel,especiallyduringthepeakhours
1

Improvingtheintegrationofdifferentmodesoftravelat transporthubs

Proposals
ProvisionofA2sliproadsandanewinterchangenearBridge.
IncreasePark&Rideprovisioninparticulartheprovisionofasiteto
servetheA2northwesternapproachandreducethenumberofcity
centrecarparkingspaces.
DevelopmentofUrbanTrafficManagementandControl(UTMC)to
maximiseefficientuseoftheexistingroadnetwork.
Busimprovementsandprioritymeasurestoimprovethespeed,
reliabilityandfrequencyofservices.
Extendandimprovewalkingandcyclingroutes.
AreliefroadthroughWincheapandsuitablejunctionswiththeA28.
ImprovementsinandaroundCanterburyWestrailwaystationto
maximisethebenefitsofSoutheasternHighSpeedservices.

Thanet
ThanetislocatedinthenortheastcornerofKent,comprisingthe seasidetownsofMargate,RamsgateandBroadstairsaswellassmaller villagesandruralareas.Theareahassufferedfromincreasing unemploymentanddeprivationduetotheclosureoftheEastKent coalfieldsandthedeclineofthetraditionalEnglishseasideholidaytrade. However,ithasrecentlyexperiencedeconomicregenerationthrough thedevelopmentoftheWestwoodCrossshoppingcentreand associatedbusiness,leisureandeducationaldevelopmentinthe surroundingarea. RoadconnectionstotherestoftheUKhavebeenimprovedthrough theduallingoftheA299ThanetWayandPhase1ofEastKentAccess thoughtherecentgrowthatWestwoodCrosshasresultedingreater congestiononthelocalroadnetwork,especiallyatweekends.The introductionofSoutheasternHighSpeedservicesinDecember2009 hasreducedjourneytimesbetweenLondonandRamsgatefrom129 minutesto81minutes.KentInternationalAirport(KIA)islocatedat Manston and the Port of Ramsgate offers a direct ferry service to Ostend. ThekeytransportchallengesforThanetare: 1 Securingtheinfrastructuretosupporttheplannedhousinggrowth withintheDistrict,including1,000homesadjacenttoWestwood CrossandthenearbymixeddevelopmentatEurokent,growthatthe airportandthebusinesssiteatManstonPark 1 SupportingtheregenerationofThanetscoastaltowns 1 MaximisingthebenefitsofSoutheasternHighSpeedservices, managingtheimpactonlocaljourneypatternsandimproving journeytimesbetweenRamsgateandAshford 1 SupportingtheexpansionofKIAandthePortofRamsgatethrough improvedtransportlinks

Proposals
LocalRoadImprovementsaroundWestwoodCross. ThanetParkwayStationatCliffsEnd.

WestwoodCross Propsals

EastKent AccessPhase2

NewParkwayStation
CrownCopyright.Allrightsreserved1000192382010

46

Issue: Action: Outcome:

growthinjobsandhousingwillcreatetrafficgridlock creationofanintegratedpublictransportnetwork increasedaccessibilitytogoodsandservices,greater choice,particularlyforthosewithoutaccesstoa privatecar 80m

willrelyonbusestoaccesshealthcare,shops,entertainmentandtheir friendsandfamily.Wealsoknowthatthecurrentfinancialdownturn hasmadebusandrailtravelmorepopularaspeoplereconsiderthe costofrunningandusingtheirprivatecar. SignificantareasoftheCountyarenotservicedbypublictransport.By providingshorttermrevenuesupport,expandedlocalbusroutes operatingmorefrequentlyandprovidingbetterlinkscangenerate significantlymorepassengersinashortspaceoftimewithoutan ongoingsubsidycommitment. TheCountyCouncilhasasuccessfulrecordofworkingwith commercialbusoperatorsthroughvoluntaryQualityBusPartnership (QBP)agreements.TherearenowsevenQBPsinKentwhichhaveseen jointinvestmentbytheCountyandDistrictCouncilsandbus companiesininfrastructure,servicefrequencyandvehiclequality. Overall,thefundingsupportprovidedbyKCCandGovernment(inthe formofconcessionaryreimbursement,BusServiceOperatorsGrant, Kickstartgrants,busstopinfrastructureetc)accountsforoverhalfthe annualturnoverofKent'sbusoperatorsamountingtosome60m perannum. Whilstitisrightandproperthatoperatorsreceivethesepaymentsin ordertomaintainaviablebusiness,itisalsorightthattheyareheldto accountbylocalauthoritiesandpassengersforthewayinwhichthis

Cost:

Buseshaveamajorroletoplayinofferingmoreattractivetravel optionstothoselivinginurbanareasandruralcommunities (particularlythoseonorclosertomainroads).Some22%of householdsinKentdonothaveaccesstoacarandmanysingle vehiclehouseholdsusethecarforcommuting,makingthebusvitalto allowthemtoreachtheservicesandopportunitiesthatsomeofus takeforgranted. AccesstoservicesisoneofthekeyissuesfacingKentsruralareasand theruralregenerationagenda.Althoughabout30%ofKents populationlivesinruralareas,mostofthesepeopleliveincommunities whichcanbeeasilyservedbyattractivebusservices,includingfast interurbanroutes.Accesstothecountrysidefromurbanareasfor recreationisalsoanimportantconsideration. Kenthasalwaysbeenapopularareaforretirementandwithmostofus livinglonger,alargerproportionofourresidentswillbeover60.They

47

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

10.AnIntegratedPublicTransportNetwork:
supportingKentsworkforce

fundingisspent.KCCwillensurethatanynewfundingpowersdevolved bytheCoalitionGovernmentareputtogooduseindeliveringbetter outcomesforbuspassengersacrosstheCounty. TheKentFreedomPassschemeprovidesfreetravelonalmostallpublic busroutesforanannualfeeofcurrently50foryoungpeoplelivingin Kent.Therearecurrentlyover25,000passesonissueandthereis evidenceofa2.6%improvementinjourneytimesoutsideschoolswith ahightakeupofpasses.KCCwillcontinuetobuildonitssuccessand giveyoungpeoplebetteraccesstolifeopportunities. KCCiscommittedtoimprovingthewholejourneyexperiencefor publictransportusers.Akeyelementofthisisbetterintegration betweenbusandrailservices.WewillworkcloselywithNetworkRail, SoutheasternandSouthernthroughtheproposedKentQualityRail Partnership(KQRP)todeliverphysicalimprovementstoaid interchangeatrailstationsandencouragepeopletotraveltothe stationbysustainablemodes.Thiswillincludeimprovementstobus accessandinfrastructure,cycleparkingandwalkingandcyclingroutes. WearecurrentlyworkingwithNetworkRailtodeliversignificant interchangeimprovementsatSevenoaksstationandwithGravesham BoroughCouncilandNetworkRailtodeliveranewTransport QuarterclosetoGravesendstationaspartoftheTownCentre regenerationproject.Wearealsopartfundingtheprocurementofnew ElectronicTicketMachines(ETMs)withSmartcardreadersforKents commercialbusservices.Thisoffersthepotentialforintegrated Smartcardticketingforrailandbusservices,similartoLondonsOyster Card,thankstotheGovernmentsrecentcommitmenttoincludea requirementtointroduceSmartcardticketinginallnewrailfranchises.

AnIntegratedBusNetwork
Withoutmuchneededkeyroadinfrastructure,theCountysroad networkwillstruggletocopewiththeproposedhousingand employmentgrowthplannedsoweneedtoplanandprovidemore efficientwaysofgettingpeopletowheretheywanttogo.Thebusisa keypartoftheanswerandliesattheheartofourproposedintegrated transportnetwork.Thisnetworkwillbeformedaroundintegrating andconnectingfourdifferenttypesofbusservice,busrapidtransit, interurbancoachservices,localbusesandruralinterchangewithother formsoftransport.Anenhancedbusnetworkwillstrengthentravel choiceandallowsustainablegrowthwherenewroadinfrastructureis difficulttoachieve.

BusInterchange
Thecrucialelementofthisintegratedbusnetworkistheabilityto changefromonekindofservicetoanother.Thiswouldbedoneat passengerskeydestinationpointsintowncentres,atmajortransport interchangepointssuchasthelocaltrainstationandatedgeoftown ParkandRidesites,whichwouldalsoconnecttheruralbusservices intotheexistingcommercialbusnetwork.Theseinterchangepoints wouldbeaplacewhereparentsdroptheirchildrenofftocatcha schoolbustotheurbancentre,knownaskissandrideandwouldlink intothelocalwalkingandcyclingnetworks,providingadditionalfacilities suchascycleparking.Thiseaseofinterchangewillbefurtherenhanced byinitiativessuchassingleticketingacrossmodeswithsimpler methodsofpayment.

48

BusRapidTransit(BRT)

BusRapidTransitaimstoprovideaservicethat offersatramlikemodeoftravelthrough improvementstoinfrastructure,vehiclesand simplicityoftimetabling,asachievedbythe FastrackserviceinKentThameside.Theimproved featuresincludesectionsofbusonlyroutesto bypassqueues,astrongimage/brand,veryfrequent serviceonarelativelydirectrouteandoffbus ticketing.Theseimprovedfeaturesofferagenuine advantageoverthecarforlocaljourneys. BRTisalreadyplannedforAshford,called Smartlink,whichwilllinkthemajordevelopment areasinthetowntothetowncentre,railway station,ParkandRidesites,businessparksandthe DesignerOutlet. FastrackandSmartlinkhavethepotentialto transformbustravelinKenttosupporteconomic growthandregeneration.Todate,Canterbury, Dover,MaidstoneandTunbridgeWellshavebeen identifiedaspotentialfuturelocations,aswellas extendingFastrackitselfintheThamesGateway. Thecombinationoftheexistingcrossinganda LowerThamesCrossingcreatestheopportunity foranorbitalbusrapidtransitsystemlinkingthe northKentThamesideFastracknetworkwiththe SouthEssexRapidTransit(SERT)network.

P&R

Harrowgate Village

Harrowgate Hill High Grange Faverdale Minors Crescent Rise Carr Springfield Branksome
School Morrisons School

Darlington Golf Course

Whinfield

West Park

West Park Hospital

Asda

School

Great Burdon

Haughton

Cockerton

P&R

Pierremont
Darlington Memorial Hospital

Albert Hill

Red Hall

College

Mowden
College

Lingfield Point Business Park

Town Centre
School

Lingfield
School

Morton Park
Woodlands Hospital
Darlington

P&R
Morrisons

Hummersknott
School

Bank Top

South Park Firth Moor Morton Palms

P&R
Blackwell Skerne Park
Darlington Arena

Figure10.1ExampleofBRTNetwork

49

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

InterUrbanCoachService
Kentstransportnetworkhasdevelopedupon bothhistoricdesirelinesandnaturalphysical constraints,meaningthatmanyroutesareradial, extendingoutwardsfromLondon.Thisis especiallytrueoftherailwaynetwork,where sometownslackdirectraillinks.Goodexamples areSittingbournetoMaidstoneandFavershamto Ashford.Coachcommuterservicesalsooperate fromKentintoLondon. Inresponse,wewilldevelopanetworkofinter urbancoachservicesofferingdirect,fastservices alongmajorcorridors.Agoodexampleisthehigh frequency101servicebetweenMaidstoneandthe Medwaytowns.Whilsttheseserviceswillhave fewstops,theywillservePark&Ridesitesonthe urbanperipheryandothersignificantoutoftown locations.Inadditiontourbancentres,these serviceswillalsoconnectkeytransport interchangepointssuchasourpassengerports, internationalrailstationsandairports.Thesealso includecrossboundaryservices,forexample, betweenFolkestoneandHastings.Thisnetwork canbedevelopedthroughstartuprevenue funding(Kickstart)inpartnershipwithoperators.

P&R
Retail Park

Harrowgate Village

Harrowgate Hill High Grange


Hospital
School Library

Golf Course

Whinfield

West Park

University

Faverdale Minors Crescent Rise Carr Springfield

Asda

School

Great Burdon

Haughton

Branksome
School

Library

Morrisons

Country Park

P&R

Pierremont
Memorial Hospital

Albert Hill

Red Hall

College

Mowden
Library College Museum Business Park

Town Centre
School

Cathedral School

Lingfield

P&R
Hummersknott
School Railway Station Art Gallery Football Ground Morrisons

Hospital

Marton Pk

Bank Top

South Park Firth Moor Morton Palms

P&R
Blackwell Skerne Park

Library

Arena

Figure10.2ExampleofInterUrbanCoachNetwork

50

LocalBusServices
Localbusserviceswhichpenetrateintoandserve localcommunitieswillcontinuetooperate,feeding intotherapidtransitandinterurbanservicesat keylocationsandviaatowncentrehub.The CountyCouncilhasworkedwithdistrictcouncils andlocaloperatorstoincreasepatronageonlocal busservices.AgoodexampleistheThanetLoop, whereasimplifiedroute,linkingthetowncentres withWestwoodCrossandtheQueenElizabeth theQueenMother(QEQM)hospitalhasseen patronagedoubleinfouryears.Featureslikea frequenttenminuteservice,lowfloorbusesand realtimeinformation,connectedthroughstrong brandingmakeTheLoopeasytouseand understandandthesesuccessfulaspectswillbe extendedtootherlocalbusservicesacrossthe County.Busprioritymeasuresmayalsobeneeded forlocalbusservicestoachievequickerandmore reliablejourneytimes.Kentslocalauthoritieswill alsoworkwithdeveloperstosecurelocalbus accesstonewhousingandemployment.

Minors Crescent

Rise Carr Springf

Branksome
School

Library

Morrisons

P&R

Pierremont
Memorial Hospital

Albert H

Mowden
Library College

Town Centre
School Football Ground

Hummersknott
School Railway Station

Figure10.3ExampleofLocalBusNetwork

51

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

School

RuralInterchangeService
Therearesignificantpocketsofdeprivationand socialexclusioninourruralareas,especiallywhere thelossoflocalserviceshasnecessitatedagreater relianceontransport.Therearealmost100 CommunityTransportschemesinKentand Medway,whichincludeKentKarrier(andsimilar schemesinMedwayandSevenoaks),VolunteerCar Schemes,AgeConcernbusesandShopmobility schemes,thoughalmostnoneoftheseprovide regularscheduledservicesavailabletothegeneral public.ThroughtheRuralAccesstoServices Programme,weareworkingonapilotbrokerage schemeofcommunitytransportprovisionto improvethesustainabilityofcurrentcommunity transportschemes. TheCountyCouncilandsomedistrictsfunda numberofDemandResponsiveTransport(DRT) serviceslikeKentKarrier.Forthemost inaccessiblelocations,theCountyCounciliskeen tolookataruralinterchangebusservicewhich feedsintotheexistingcommercialbusnetworkat keyinterchangepointsoninterurbanroutes. Anadditionalsolutionisthattheinterurban routesconsistofsomelimitedstopdirectservices andsomedivertedserviceswhichservevillages andhamletslocatedashortdistanceoffthemain interurbantrunkroad.

Cockerton

P&R

Pierremont
Darlington Memorial Hospital

Albert Hill

Red Hall

College

Mowden
College

Lingfield Point Business Park

Town Centre
School

Lingfield
School

Morton Park
Woodlands Hospital
Darlington

P&R
Morrisons

Hummersknott
School

Bank Top

South Park Firth Moor Morton Palms

P&R
Blackwell Skerne Park
Darlington Arena

Westbridge

Middle Barnfield

Upper Barnfield

Figure10.4ExampleofRuralInterchangeNetwork
L

52

ARailActionPlanforKent
GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent
53
KCCsbiannualRailSummits,bringingtogethertheDepartmentfor Transport,NetworkRail,Southeastern,PassengerFocus,localrailuser groups,MPsandlocalcouncillors,provideapowerfulcollectivevoicein discussingtheproblemsthattheCountyscommutersaresufferingasa resultofrecenttimetablechanges,aswellasthebenefitsoftheHigh Speedservicesandfutureaspirations.WeareproducingaRailAction PlanforKentwhichwillbeusedtoinformfuturerailinvestmentand serviceplans,bothintheshorttermandforfuturerailfranchises. Majorprioritiesforactioninclude:
1 1

1 1

ReinstatementoftheCityservicetoMaidstoneandWestMalling. ExtendingtheHighSpeedservicefromDoverviaDealandSandwich toRamsgate. FeasibilityofextendingHighSpeedservicesfromEbbsfleetto MaidstoneWest. ImprovingthejourneytimesfortheHighSpeedservicefrom AshfordviaCanterburyandtheproposedThanetParkway toRamsgate. ImprovementstotheNorthKentline. Investigatingthefeasibilityofintroducingathroughservicebetween GatwickandKentafter2015. IncludingMaidstoneEastastheprincipalKentterminusfor Thameslinkservicesfrom2018.

WehavealreadydevelopedastrongworkingrelationshipwithNetwork Railandarepursuinganumberoftheserailenhancements,whichare presentedgraphicallyinFigure10.5.Itisanticipatedthatthemajorityof theseschemeswillbetakenforwardforimplementationin2014.

Dartford

Sheerness Gravesend Strood Margate

Ebbsfleet International

Thanet Parkway
Extension of High Speed Services to Maidstone West via Strood (2014)

Ramsgate Sittingbourne Maidstone Parkway Canterbury West


Ashford to Ramsgate line improvements - up to 10 mins journey time saving (2014) Extension of High Speed Services to Ramsgate via Deal & Sandwich (2014)

Sevenoaks

Maidstone East & West

Thameslink services to City of London (2018)

Deal

Tonbridge
Gatwick to Kent rail service via Ashford & Tonbridge (2015)

Ashford International
Westenhanger Parkway Folkestone ne Central Folkestone West
Incremental line improvements reducing journey time from Dover to London to under 60 minutes (2014-2019)

Dover Priory

Tunbridge Wells

Ashford to Hastings line improvements - up to 10 mins journey time saving (2014-2019)

High Speed One Mainline Principal Stations Proposed Parkway Stations

To Hastings

Figure10.5RailEnhancements

54

11.Local Development Frameworks: securing infrastructure

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent
55
ThisStrategyoutlinesavisionfortheintegratedtransportnetwork neededinKenttosupporttheplannedgrowthinemploymentand housing.Assuch,elementsofthisStrategyareaspirationalandthe precisedeliverymechanismsandtimescalesforitsconstituentprojects haveyettobedetermined.Thesewillbeprogressedaccordingtolocal andnationalpoliticalprioritiesandeconomicconditions,whichwillin turndictatethepaceofhousingandcommercialdevelopmentoverthe next1015years.ItisforthisreasonthattheStrategydoesnotoutline adetailedActionPlan.Someinitiativesproposedstillrequirefurther analysisandfeasibilitystudieswhileotherswillrequireachangein attitudesandbehavioursbyallofus. Whatisclearisthattheactionswillbedeliveredbymanypartners workingtogetherintwointerlinkedprocessesasshowninFigure11.1. 1. SpatialPlanningdecidingwheredevelopmentistobelocated anditsform.ThisisledbytheLocalDevelopmentFrameworks (LDFs)foreachdistrict. 2. TransportPlanning identifyingwhichtransportimprovements areneededfordeliverythroughtheLocalTransportPlan(LTP) processandotherfundingmechanisms Thesewillbebroughttogetheratthelocallevelthroughthe developmentofLocalTransportStrategies.

SpatialPlanning

TransportPlanning

LocalTransportStrategy LDF
PRIORITY

LTP3

Figure11.1PlanningandDeliveryoftheTransportDelivery
PlanforKent

EachofKents12districtandboroughcouncilshasadutytopreparea LDFtoreplacetheirexistingLocalPlans.TheLDFdetermineswhere developmentcantakeplaceupto2026andcontainsaCoreStrategy whichprovidesthespatialvisionandstrategicpoliciesonissueslike housing,employment,biodiversityetc. ItisvitalthattransportinfrastructureandtheLDFareclosely integratedsincethelocationofdevelopmentcanhaveasubstantial impactontraveldemandinaparticulararea.Therefore,theCounty Councilworkscloselywithdistrictstoensurealignmentbetweenthe LDFandtheLTP.OfficersinKentHighwayServicesalsoworkclosely withtheirrespectivedistrictcouncilstoensurethatthetransport implicationsofdevelopmentproposalsareidentifiedandmitigatedatan earlystageintheplanningprocess. Districtcouncilsareresponsiblefordecidingthescaleandlocationof housing,employmentandotherlandusesintheirLDFs.However,the decisionstakenbythemmayhavelongtermimplicationsforthecost anddeliveryofKCCservices.TheCountyCouncilthereforeworks withdistrictcouncilstoensurethattheirLDFsaredeliverableand affordable.Aspartofthis,KCCprovidesinformationandundertakes assessmentofdistrictcounciloptionsforthescaleandlocationof developmentintheirareaaspartoftheessentialevidencegathering stageoftheplanningprocess.Thisrolehasbecomeparticularly importantinlightoftheGovernmentsproposedreductioninlocal authoritybudgetsandcapitalfunding.

toensurethatKCCscontributionstotheLDFprocessare consistent,soundandfullyexplained. tosetoutclearlytheimplicationsforKCCcostsandservicesofthe developmentoptionstobeexamined. totakeaconsistentviewofLDFproposalsinthelightofthe RegenerationFrameworkandtheKCCHousing,Integrated TransportandEnvironmentStrategies. toworkwithdistrictcouncilsfromtheearlystagesoftheLDF processinfindingsolutionsthatarebeworkableandaffordable forKCC.

TheInfrastructureDeliveryPlanisacentralpartoftheLDF.Itsetsout theinfrastructurerequiredtodelivernewdevelopment,alongwithits locationandcosts,andwhowilldeliverit.Itisthereforeavital opportunityforKCC,astheauthorityresponsibleforthedeliveryof highwayandcommunityinfrastructure,toinfluencetheformofeach districtsdevelopmentproposalsanditsimplicationsforKCCservices. SomeofthemajortransportinfrastructureidentifiedinKentsLDFsis listedbelow. Currently(December2010),fourdistricts;Ashford,Dover,Tonbridge& MallingandTunbridgeWellshaveadoptedCoreStrategies.The remainingdistrictsandMedwayCouncilareatvariousstagesinthe productionoftheirCoreStrategies.

KCCthereforewishestostrengthenitsworkingrelationship withdistrictcouncilsinthepreparationofLDFstoachievethe followingaims:

56

TransportPlanning
AlongsideKentsLocalDevelopmentFrameworks,theotherkey processwhichwilldelivertheobjectivesofthisStrategyisthe formulation,designandimplementationoftransportmeasuresand initiatives.InlinewiththeCoalitionGovernmentsdevolutionary planningpolicies,thesewillincreasinglybeshapedbylocalcommunities.

ThestrategyapproachforLTP3hasbeentodevelopfivethemes whichare:
1 1 1 1 1

LocalTransportPlan3
TheLocalTransportPlan(LTP)isastatutorydocumentproducedbyall localtransportauthorities.Itcontainstheauthoritysvision,policiesand objectivesforlocaltransportandoutlinesanimplementationplanof transportschemeswhichwilldelivertheseobjectivesforacertain allocationoffundingfromCentralGovernment. KentCountyCouncil(KCC)haspreviouslyproducedtwoLTPs coveringtheperiods200106and200611respectivelyandathirdLTP isrequiredtobeinplaceby1stApril2011.KentsapproachtoLTP3has beenbasedontheCountyCouncilsnewRegenerationFramework, UnlockingKentsPotential;andthisTransportDeliveryPlan,Growth WithoutGridlock.OurLTP3thereforeproposesanewapproachto thedeliveryoftransportinfrastructureinKent,whichprioritises investmentintheCountysGrowthAreasandGrowthPoints, maximisesthebenefitsofhighspeedrail,anticipatesthetwinchallenges ofanageingpopulationandtheimpactsofclimatechange,anddraws uponnewandinnovativefundingsourcestosecurethedeliveryof housing,economicgrowthandprosperity.

Usingthesethemes,arangeofoptionshasbeenputforwardforhow toprioritisethefundingweexpectforLTP3.Thepreferred methodologyproposestoallocateaproportionofthebudgettoeach ofthefivethemesand,withinthesethemes,tofocustheinvestmentin theareaswherethechallengesassociatedwitheachthemearemost acute. ConsultationonadraftLTP3commencedinOctober2010andwill closeon31stDecember2010.Sincetheleveloffundingthatwillbe availableforLTP3isstillnotclear,adraftLTP3ImplementationPlanhas notyetbeenprepared.Howeverweexpecttheretobesubstantially lessmoneyavailableandinresponse,haveidentifiedpossiblealternative fundingstreamstosupplementLTP3funding. AFinalLTP3StrategyandImplementationPlanwillbeadoptedbythe endofMarch2011.

57

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

GrowthWithoutGridlock ASaferandHealthierCounty SupportingIndependence TacklingaChangingClimate EnjoyingLifeinKent

Figure11.2TheKent,GreaterEssexandEastSussexLocalEnterprisePartnership

58

LocalEnterprisePartnership
InOctober2010,theCoalitionGovernmentgavethegoaheadfor EnglandslargestLocalEnterprisePartnership(LEP).TheKent,Greater EssexandEastSussexLEP,whichwillbefullyimplementedfromApril 2011,willbringtogetherlocalauthoritiesandbusinessestocreatethe rightenvironmentforeconomicgrowth.Thiswillincludeidentifying andpromotingschemeswhichimproveconnectivity,enhanceskills, delivernewhousingandincreasetourism.TheLEP,whichwillcovera combinedpopulationofsome3.9million,andabusinesscommunityof 130,000companiessupportingover1.3millionjobs,willpursueseveral keyobjectives,including:
1

positioningKent,EssexandEastSussextocompetemoreeffectively withtheEnglishCityRegionsforinwardinvestment; redressingtheEastWestprosperityimbalancearoundLondonand exploitingtheunderutilisedeconomiccapacityofKent,Essexand EastSussex; championinganddevelopinginnovativesolutionstothestrategic infrastructureissuesidentifiedinthisStrategy,includingtheneedfor aLowerThamesCrossing,greaterroadcapacityandresilienceinthe ChannelCorridorandimprovedrailaccesstoEastKent;and ensuringthatbusinesseshavetheskilledworkforcesneededto compete,throughthestrengtheningofrelationshipswithuniversities, colleges,andlocalauthorities.

59

GrowthwithoutgridlockAtransportdeliveryplanforKent

LEPswillassumemanyofthefunctionsoftheRegionalDevelopment Agencies(RDAs),whichwerefelttobeinsufficientlyaccountableto localcommunitiesandaretobeabolishedbytheCoalition Government.Withthisinmind,theKent,GreaterEssexandEast SussexLEPwillseektobalancedemocraticmandatewithastrong voiceforbusiness,withaStrategicBoardincludingatleastone representativefromthevoluntaryorsocialenterprisesector.Itwillfully embracethelocalismagenda,devolvingdecisionmakingandcontrol wherever possible andencouraginglocalinnovationtomeetlocalneeds.

12.PrioritiesforGrowthwithoutgridlock
Thebig,key,transportdriversforchange

PlansforaLowerThamesCrossing tounlockgrowthintheThamesGatewayandtorelievethecongestionwhichcoststheUKeconomysome
40mannually.
The bifurcationoftrafficfromDoverDockstouseboththeM20/A20andM2/A2corridors,withfreightthroughthePortexpectedto
doubleoverthenext20years.
AlongtermsolutiontoOperationStack whichcoststhehaulageindustrysome1maday.
MaximisingthebenefitsofHighSpeedRail,especiallytoEastKent.
DevelopingaParkwaystationforThanet,servingManstonAirport,unlockingneweconomicdevelopmentopportunitiesinEastKentat
minimalcost.
Integratingpublictransport networkstostimulatetheruraleconomy.
Furtherimprovingtrafficmanagementinourtowns toreducecongestionandimproveairquality.
LinkingnewinfrastructuremorecloselytolocalplanningthroughtheDistrictLocalDevelopmentFrameworkplanningprocess.
Pressingforgreaterlocalcontrolofhighwaysspendingtoprovidequickerandcheaperwaysofdeliveringstrategicroadinfrastructuresuchat
theurgentlyneededduallingoftheA21.
Districtprioritieskeychallengesandproposals.

60

IntegratedStrategyandPlanning
InvictaHouse,Maidstone,KentME141XX www.kent.gov.uk Tel:01622221050 Thisdocumentisavailableinalternativeformatsandcanbeexplainedinarangeoflanguages.
Pleasecall01622221050fordetails.

Anda mungkin juga menyukai