Press Releases for 2004

DOVER WANTS CONGESTION CHARGING

22nd May 2004

In Dover town centre on 22nd May, Green Party candidate for Kent in the European Elections (1), Hazel Dawe was talking to passersby about the proposed congestion charging for roads into Dover Docks. When asked whether road traffic into Dover Docks should be subject to congestion charging, all respondents replied "No".

However, when the question was changed to "Should HGV traffic into Dover Docks be subject to congestion charging?" the overwhelming response was "Yes". 83% of people expressing an opinion thought that lorries should pay a congestion charge with only 17% saying no. Nearly everyone asked expressed an opinion: the proportion of "don't know" responses was negligible. All those questioned were then told that Dover Harbour Board believed that lorry traffic into the port would increase by 100% inside ten years (2) and that the road network would not be able to cope. They were then asked what their solution would be if congestion charging was not used. At this point, some of those who had been opposed to congestion charging for lorries changed their mind. However, some innovative suggestions were made. To reduce car traffic more car sharing and more buses were suggested including a special road lane for car sharers(3). Separate lanes for lorries and cars were suggested as was reopening the rail link to Western Docks and using Western Docks for freight or building a tunnel. Reopening the port of Ramsgate to freight was suggested especially in view of the large amount of money spent on the access road as was redirecting some freight traffic to Folkestone." ENDS c264 words

FURTHER INFORMATION: Hazel Dawe on 01233 645167 or 07960 956272. Contact address: 10 Hillbrow Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 4QH. Local website: www.eastkent-greenparty.org.uk Hazel Dawe is a Senior Lecturer in Law at London Metropolitan University.

Notes: 1. Hazel Dawe is one of 10 candidates on the Green Party list for the South East Region's European constituency. Other information on these elections can be found at www.greenparty.org.uk/southeast and on the website of the South East's Green MEP, Caroline Lucas at www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk Published and promoted by Susan Miles, on behalf of the South East Confederation of Green Parties, both at 3 Copse Cottages, Shillingford Road, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8LQ.

2.1. Comments of Paul Watkins, leader of the Council: www.news/bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/hi/england/kent/2955388.stm 2.6.03 3. Canterbury City Council is about to introduce a combined bus lane and car share lane on the Canterbury Ring Road.

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