Traffic problems are well documented in Dartford and the crossing is often to blame. A logistics firm boss thinks he may have the answer for that.

The managing director of Europa Worldwide Group, Andrew Baxter has launched a campaign to ban "oversized and hazardous goods vehicles" from using the crossing, instead sending them the other way round the M25.

Mr Baxter, whose firm has a base near the crossing, said his proposal will remove up to 2.5 hours of traffic at the tunnel a day.

He said: “Much has been reported in the local and national media about the issue of utter traffic chaos on a daily basis at the Dartford Tunnel. Highways England says it is putting a series of measures in place to try to better the situation. However, it is not looking into my proposal, which baffles me.

“When a vehicle which is oversized or carrying hazardous goods enters the crossing, it needs to be escorted in a convoy. Whenever there is a convoy, all other traffic has to stop. On average, 100 convoys go through the crossing a day – and traffic has to stop to accommodate them.”

News Shopper:

Lower Thames Crossing will be east of Gravesend 

It was announced earlier this year that the long-awaited Lower Thames Crossing will be built east of Gravesend, a decision welcomed by Dartford councillors and MP Gareth Johnson.

The Lower Thames Crossing will reduce traffic in the town and potentially bring toll charges down, according to council leader Jeremy Kite.

Mr Baxter thinks his solution will remove congestion quicker than the new crossing.

He said: "My suggestion is simple: stop the convoys and divert these oversized and hazardous vehicles the other way around the M25. I believe that the environmental and economic damage of creating traffic jams on the M25 are much worse than sending a small number of vehicles the other way around the M25.

"Obviously I welcome the government’s Option C proposal, however this will not be up and running for at least eight years. Clearly we cannot accept the status quo in the meantime."

News Shopper recently reported that air pollution at the crossing is above EU guidelines and residents in Dartford have the second highest hospital admissions for asthma in the country.

Mr Baxter is not the only campaigner with ideas to reduce traffic at the crossing, with another group proposing a tram system linking Essex and Kent.

This new campaign has been dubbed Get Dartford Moving: Stop the Convoys and has gained more than 300 signatures on its petition.

You can sign the petition here.