Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said the Dartford Crossing has become “Britain’s worst stretch of motorway” in Parliament.

In questions to the leader of the house Chris Grayling, Mr Johnson requested a debate on the river crossing after complaining that the £62 million changes have not done enough to alleviate traffic congestion.

Mr Grayling neither confirmed or denied that such a debate would take place, but did call on Highways England to improve the free-flow system.

Mr Johnson said: “The approach to the Dartford Crossing on the M25 has become Britain’s worst stretch of motorway.

“The free-flow system was introduced there earlier this year and has clearly failed to live up to expectations leading to horrendous traffic jams in the area.

“Could we have a debate, Mr Speaker, on this issue and how the residents of Dartford are left at the mercy of any incident that takes place at the Dartford Crossing?”

Responding, Mr Grayling said: “Well I absolutely understand the knock on effect for his constituents of this. I have to say it is frustrating it has not worked better sooner because free–flow should be a dramatic improvement on what was there before.

“It is disappointing that it has not yet happened. I am certainly aware that the Highways Agency understand the problem but I think we all need to see them get their skates on to deliver a better set up because we cannot leave both that important part of the M25 and the residents of Dartford in a position where things are not at their best yet.”

In an exclusive poll in KentOnline's sister paper the Gravesend Messenger poll this week, we revealed that 9 in ten readers don’t think that the changes at the crossing have improved traffic flow.

However, Highways England insists that the scheme is speeding up journeys, particularly southbound.

A spokesman for Highways England said: "Dart Charge is successfully speeding up journeys at the Dartford Crossing, and giving drivers more flexibility about how and when they pay the crossing charge.

"Since it launched in November, journey times have improved significantly, especially southbound. Work to improve the road layout was substantially completed in July 2015.

"The new Traffic Safety System was introduced in June and marked the start of a significant period of change on the northbound carriageway for both drivers and staff operating the Crossing.

"We are working flat out to fine-tune the system to ensure optimum performance and to maximise traffic flow while maintaining safety.”