The Leader of Dover District Council has thanked the Kent Resilience Forum for responding to its request for proactive traffic management from Friday, 21 to Sunday 23 July at the start of the summer getaway.
Following the request from Dover District Council, traffic marshals supported by the Port of Dover Police were deployed to manage traffic at key junctions on York Street, Woolcomber Street, and Jubilee Way. This kept traffic moving with only isolated congestion on local roads when traffic levels reach their peak.
Cllr Kevin Mills said: “I’m grateful to the teams at the Port of Dover and the Kent Resilience Forum for listening to us and putting in place some of the proactive traffic management we called for. The plan worked, and we did not see a repeat of the massive delays experienced on local roads at Easter and in summer 2022.
“These busy days are predictable, so these measures need to be in place every time we see peak travel periods. That way, the Port and ferry operators can deliver a better service for their passengers, and local communities can go about their business.”
At the same time, however, Dover District Council has called on the government and Highways England to move quicker with plans to improve the strategic road network in East Kent, and to improve welfare arrangements for HGV drivers.
“The government needs to step up and invest to create a road network in and around Dover which is fit for Europe’s busiest ferry port and vital to UK trade. For too long, ministers have ignored the problem. Dover must be prioritised for investment in the government’s Road Investment Strategy (RIS3).”
Posted on 24 July 2023