Logistics UK's CEO David Wells OBE addresses Lower Thames Crossing parliamentary reception

Wells pledged Logistics UK's full support for the government's mission to kickstart growth and get the country building again, and how the Lower Thames Crossing would be a key factor in keeping goods moving, particularly between the Channel Ports and the rest of the country.  

"Together, this sector is one of the largest in the UK, contributing £185 billion GVA to the economy and employing 8% of the UK workforce," said Wells. "The sector relies on the UK having high quality transport infrastructure, to move goods in the most productive, strategic and green way. This is key to getting the country building again and delivering a more resilient economy.  

"To make progress, the logistics sector needs the right government partnerships, regulations and investment. With this, it can deliver productivity gains that would supercharge the UK economy by up to £8 billion per year by 2030, according to Oxford Economics.  

"Progress includes putting logistics at the heart of the industrial strategy that the government is committed to, with that industrial strategy boosting the critical enablers of growth, including our transport networks.  

"We are clear that, where there are projects that would obviously strengthen the UK’s strategic logistics network, and benefit the UK economy, those projects should proceed.  

"The Lower Thames Crossing is one of those projects. While Dartford is the only road crossing east of London, don’t think of this as a south east matter only. It is a national matter.  

"The Dartford Crossing is critical national infrastructure. It connects Kent and Essex and, by doing that, connects everything north of Kent – the Midlands, the north of England, Scotland – with Europe.  

"60,000 freight vehicles use the Dartford Crossing every day, and despite its importance to the UK economy, the Dartford Crossing has become one the most congested roads in the country, handling 15,000 more vehicles a day than it was designed for. 

“As a result, 95% of journeys travelling northbound during the evening peak are delayed. That is why we are urging the Secretary of State for Transport to approve the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Lower Thames Crossing project by the deadline of 4 October."  

A joint business letter will be sent to the Secretary of State for Transport next week calling for the DCO to be approved.  

Sign the letter of support here.

View and download the letter to The Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP here.

Members are encouraged to add their support by completing this short form and providing permission to use their logo. 

Published On: 05/09/2024 16:40:00

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