Hope for those in Swanscombe - as new bid submitted to fix Galley Hill Road
It's been closed for three years, with many in the area suffering
Over three years on from Galley Hill Road's closure, we're hearing that a bid to fund repairs has been submitted to the government's Transport Structures Fund.
Speaking to Hits and Greatest Hits Radio Jim Dickson, the MP for Dartford said:
"I'm very pleased to say that the bid to the Transport Structures Fund for Galley Hill Road, which would enable us to rebuild it, get the road open and relieve Swanscombe of heavy lorries, went in on Monday, with my strong support, from Kent County Council.
"And we should know in the autumn whether money's been allocated.
"I'll be doing everything between now and the autumn to lobby to ensure we do get the money we need to rebuild Galley Hill Road."
On how people in the are were feeling about the update
"Residents and businesses are still feeling extremely frustrated.
"They're feeling neglected because the road is now 3 years on and still sitting there collapsed.
"But they do feel a sense of hope now, because there is this Transport Structures Fund set up by the Labour Government that Kent can bid into with my support.
"And I think we're all got our fingers crossed, I'm holding my breath till the autumn, and really imploring the government to allocate the money so that Galley Hill Road can be reopened and people in Swanscombe can get their lives back to normal."
A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said:
“KCC has now formally submitted bids to the Government’s Structures Fund for two vital highway schemes in Kent. The bids ask for investment to reinstate the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe following the cliff collapse in 2023, and to address safety-critical issues on the A299 between Whitstable and Ramsgate. We look forward to hearing the outcome of the Government’s assessment in the autumn.”
There are currently no updates on the status of the bid expected until autumn.