by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Business and council chiefs have urged the Government to speed up the introduction of free flow tolling at the Dartford River Crossing, saying it is the greatest single barrier to growth and enterprise.

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), representing employers and councils in Kent, Medway, Essex, East Sussex, Southend and Thurrock, also warned that a potential new route across the Thames close to the existing one will not work.

Consultants have started assessing other options ahead of a public consultation planned for 2013.

Chairman John Spence spoke about the controversial issue to Transport Minister Stephen Hammond this week.

He said: “Business and councils alike have identified the Dartford crossing as the greatest single barrier to growth and enterprise.

At the very least we need to be assured that free flow tolling would happen as planned in 2014, but we believe the programme can and should be accelerated significantly.”

Mr Spence also called for investment in Junction 30/31 of the M25 and A13 in Thurrock to further ease congestion.

“It is all very well to increase the capacity but the M25 and its approach roads simply will not cope with massive increased volumes.

"Local businesses wanting to operate on both sides of the river would rather have the choice of where to cross if that is economically feasible.

"So we need to step back, understand what we want more crossing capacity for, and then develop a solution that will last for the long term.”