A series of measures to relieve traffic congestion at key hotspots in Kent is to receive £1m funding from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP)
The Local Growth Fund monies will be used to improve junctions and upgrade traffic management systems.
Relieving congestion in key hotspots in Kent
The schemes to benefit are:
- Adding a left turn lane on the southern approach to Wateringbury crossroads between West Malling and Maidstone.
- Increasing capacity and improving safety at the junction of Elwick Road and Victoria Road in Ashford.
- Improving traffic management and journey times on arterial routes in Tunbridge Wells by linking junction technology to the Highways Management Centre.
- Introducing a management system to Thanet and Tunbridge Wells that automatically adjusts the timings of traffic signals at key junctions based on queue lengths.
- An assessment of Dover TAP, concentrating on linking the traffic management systems of Highways England and Kent County Council, along with improved signs and road markings.
Geoff Miles, Chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Accountability Board, said:
“Keeping congestion to a minimum and traffic moving is key to encouraging investment and regeneration in an area.Often smaller interventions such as these in Kent can make a significant difference, which is why SELEP has approved funding for what are seen as important projects.”
Link to business case
Economic development in the South East
The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) is the business-led organisation that champions the economic growth of Kent, Essex, East Sussex, Medway, Southend and Thurrock.
One of 38 LEPs across the country, SELEP works with its local partners operating under a federated model to secure investment to help deliver new homes and infrastructure. It is responsible for determining the area’s strategic economic priorities while making investments and delivering activities to drive growth and create local job.
Growth Deal
Growth Deals are a £12 billion national long-term programme to revitalise local economies.
The Local Growth Fund is the Government’s funding pot of at least £2bn a year from 2015/16 to 2020/21. Most of the funding is allocated through a competitive process, and there are have been three rounds of Local Growth Funds so far. Projects funded will be delivered by 2021.
In total the SELEP Growth Deal with Government has brought almost £590.8m of investment to around 100 projects in East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock.
Over the lifetime of the deal (2015-2021) SELEP aims to deliver 78,000 jobs and 29,000 homes. It is set to attract a further £960 million investment into the South East over the next five years.