Over the coming years, it is forecast that most residents will work in the area where they live. However, particularly in the west of the county, 17% of all new commuting trips will be destined for London, a large proportion of which will be by rail, and therefore additional rail capacity is needed. Roles and Responsibilities We are responsible for the management and maintenance of all of It is vital that national government looks at strategic transport issues Kent’s local roads and public rights of way (excluding motorways in Kent and the wider UK holistically and seeks alternative solutions, such as increasing the proportion of freight carried by rail. and trunk roads that are managed by Highways England). We have Freight trains can reduce pressure on the road network, and produce an obligation to promote and improve the economic, social and far fewer carbon emissions and air pollutants per tonne of haulage. environmental wellbeing of the county, and to do this we We support the growth of rail freight on HS1 and mainline wherever implement local transport schemes that support these long term possible, although we acknowledge that there is limited scope for objectives. We also articulate the county’s needs for major freight transport by rail, partly due to capacity limitations on the rail transport infrastructure, such as a new Lower Thames Crossing, an network for additional paths for freight trains. alternative to Operation Stack, a solution for inappropriate overnight lorry parking, and improvements to bus and rail services. Our county is the Gateway to continental Europe and a reliable and connected transport network is needed to maintain this status so We have a strong record of delivery since 2011 when the previous Kent, as a vital part of the greater South East, can compete on an Local Transport Plan (LTP) and the strategic transport delivery plan international stage and complement London as a growth corridor. ‘Growth without Gridlock’ were published; and we will continue to work through this latest LTP to get greater investment in transport Efficient transport that reliably connects places is vital for economic infrastructure for the benefit of the residents and business of Kent. Growth without Gridlock. To date, we has successfully secured almost £120m of Local Growth Funding from central Government and we will continue to put the [Image Description: An image of which Ebbsfleet Valley might look case forward for further investment. in 2035] [Image Description: A worker filling in a pothole.] [Image Description:
Over the coming years, it is forecast that most residents will work in the area where they live. However, particularly in the west of the county, 17% of all new commuting trips will be destined for London, a large proportion of which will be by rail, and therefore additional rail capacity is needed. It is vital that national government looks at strategic transport issues in Kent and the wider UK holistically and seeks alternative solutions, such as increasing the proportion of freight carried by rail. Freight trains can reduce pressure on the road network, and produce far fewer carbon emissions and air pollutants per tonne of haulage. We support the growth of rail freight on HS1 and mainline wherever possible, although we acknowledge that there is limited scope for freight transport by rail, partly due to capacity limitations on the rail network for additional paths for freight trains. Our county is the Gateway to continental Europe and a reliable and connected transport network is needed to maintain this status so Kent, as a vital part of the greater South East, can compete on an international stage and complement London as a growth corridor. Efficient transport that reliably connects places is vital for economic Growth without Gridlock. [Image Description: An image of which Ebbsfleet Valley might look in 2035] Roles and Responsibilities We are responsible for the management and maintenance of all of Kent’s local roads and public rights of way (excluding motorways and trunk roads that are managed by Highways England). We have an obligation to promote and improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the county, and to do this we implement local transport schemes that support these long term objectives. We also articulate the county’s needs for major transport infrastructure, such as a new Lower Thames Crossing, an alternative to Operation Stack, a solution for inappropriate overnight lorry parking, and improvements to bus and rail services. We have a strong record of delivery since 2011 when the previous Local Transport Plan (LTP) and the strategic transport delivery plan ‘Growth without Gridlock’ were published; and we will continue to work through this latest LTP to get greater investment in transport infrastructure for the benefit of the residents and business of Kent. To date, we has successfully secured almost £120m of Local Growth Funding from central Government and we will continue to put the case forward for further investment. [Image Description: A worker filling in a pothole.] [Image Description: