SHADOW health and education minister Tim Yeo has visited Dover to discuss pollution in the town and the dualling of the A2.

Dover distict council are concerned that carbon dioxide from cars and sulphur dioxide from ferries are affecting air quality in the town. The air quality is monitored by the council and they believe that dualling the A2 from Lydden would help.

At present many cars and freight reach the port of Dover by travelling right through the front of the town after leaving the A20.

Mr Yeo said: “You cannot say you’ve got an integrated transport strategy when one of the most important ports is not served by a direct road.”

Dover District council leader Cllr Paul Watkins, said: “We have always been strong supporters of dualling the A2 and have promoted this for over 20 years. I am concerned that the road was dropped from the agenda in 1997.”

Cllr Watkins added that if the government approves the plans, it could take between seven and eight years to turn the road into a dual carriageway.