The hated permanent Dover TAP could finally come to and end in July.

MP Charlie Elphicke has been told this is the newest date for the cessation of the constant 40mph speed restriction on the A20 from Folkestone to Dover.

Highways officials, in recent crunch talks, told the Dover and Deal MP preparations have been made to make the limit variable by the end of July.

A Notice of Determination, a statement that the scheme will not significantly affect the environment, has been published in the London Gazette.

If this goes unchallenged highways bosses say a six-week programme to install new digital signs will begin immediately.

Details about roads closures are expected to be published towards the end of the NoD process.

Mr Elphicke had earlier this week met Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, raising concerns about delays in ending the permanent limit.

He said: “I completely share local drivers’ frustration with Highways England’s failure to get on with the job.

“First of all they said they would have this absurd speed limit gone by March. Then they said it won’t be gone until June.

“Yet again they have failed to get on with the job. It’s wrong they continue to subject local people to yet more delays.

“I passed on our concerns to the Transport Secretary – and called for swift action to be taken.”

Dover TAP (Traffic Assessment Project) was introduced in April 2015 on the A20 from the Round Hill Tunnels at Folkestone to Aycliffe.

It is to control the flow of port-bound traffic at busy times.
It involves a 40mph speed limit but that has been enforced at all times.

Varying this would allow the national speed limit of 70mph for cars, motorcycles and vans when TAP is not being used.

Drivers complain that they have to go artificially slowly even when it is entirely safe to go up to the usual limit.

Yet they are fined for going over 40mph or tailgated by other drivers, including those in lorries, when they keep within the limit.

It has led to Dover-bound drivers circumventing this by going onto the B2011 and Capel-le-Ferne parish council has complained that they are using its part of the road as a rat run.

Highways England argues that Dover TAP has successfully reduced the congestion on the A20 through the town at busy times.