Shield Road headquartered Europa Worldwide Group is urging for more collaboration between the logistics industry, partners and policy makers regarding the Lower Thames Crossing ahead of ‘frantic Friday’.
Due to Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, the leading independent logistics provider is predicting congestion challenges heightening on Friday 20th December, two days earlier than 2023.
With many firms are expecting more than 50 per cent increase in the volume of deliveries, this will be particularly challenging at key pinch points such as the Dartford Crossing. Europa Worldwide Group’s 27k sq. ft ‘1Hub’ – the largest European groupage hub in the UK – is strategically located next to the crossing, a key trading route for British businesses.
On this day, Europa will move unprecedented levels of freight across the country, through its Dartford facility to get goods to customers ahead of Christmas.
Kirsty Dean, Marketing & Communications Director at Europa Worldwide Group, said: “We have noticed the pre-Christmas congestion stress starting as early as Thursday 12th December with significant congestion around the Dartford area causing delays.
“On a normal day, we can have more than 200 truck movements every 24 hours in and out of Dartford. So, any delays over the Dartford Crossing during periods of high demand really puts pressure on our local infrastructure.
“This pressure can cause thousands of pounds worth of delays for us, our customers and
British business. The higher the demand for logistics services needed to move goods ahead of Christmas closures, the more freight vehicles are needed to get those goods to their destinations”.
A decision on whether plans for the proposed 23km Lower Thames Crossing will go ahead was delayed for the third time in October, as the Government considers the application further. While certainly a sizable infrastructural development, there are many trading benefits which could alleviate some of the strain on the local infrastructure, particularly during busier periods.
Kirsty continues: “Logistics UK estimates that up to £200 million is lost every year in productivity due to congestion at the Dartford Crossing, with businesses across the country feeling the impact of delays to deliveries.
“But this doesn’t account for the personal cost to people in the area, who are having to spend extra hours on the road and fewer hours with their families. It’s not uncommon for members of our 367-strong team to have difficulty with things like school pickups and drop offs, having to rely on family members if they’re not going to make it on time.
“Quite often, the traffic they face can be soul-destroying before their working day has even started.”
The Lower Thames Crossing is strategic on a local level, helping to strengthen the infrastructure around Kent and Essex. However, it is also nationally significant, streamlining supply chains and providing a seamless movement of goods for British businesses throughout the year.
National Highways estimates that the proposed Lower Thames Crossing will be vital for reducing transit times, providing a new route for freight, connecting the North, Midlands and Short Straights (where over half of all goods traded between UK and EU are transported). In a video created alongside National Highways, Europa discusses how an alternative route over the Thames is critical for its local hub and work across the whole country.
Taking a proactive stance on its campaign for the Lower Thames Crossing, Europa Worldwide Group is joining a consortium led by Dartford’s MP, Jim Dickson. Launching on Monday December 16th, 2024, this will serve as a formal platform for collaborative engagement between industry stakeholders, supply chain partners and policy makers.
Jim Dickson said: “The coming together of over 75 major businesses shows unwavering support for the Lower Thames Crossing and adds weight to the urgent call for a go ahead from Government.
“This project is more than a road – it is a gateway to new markets, a catalyst for job creation, and a solution to the congestion that constrains constituents and our economy. We need to get on with the job and get the crossing delivered, doubling capacity over the Thames east of London and kick-starting economic growth in the South East.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y5g264PojA
