A major freight specialist, based in the county, says the proposed Lower Thames Crossing offers “a significant lifeline” for trade.

A decision on the crossing - a 14.3-mile stretch of road linking the M2 near Gravesend, under the River Thames, to the M25 - was deferred by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh last month until at least May next year.

But Dartford-headquartered freight firm the Europa Worldwide Group, says the link is essential for easing pressure at the Dartford Crossing and will add £40 billion to the UK economy.

Andrew Baxter, chief executive of the firm, said: “It has been reported that 40% of journeys over the Dartford Crossing are freight vehicles transporting important goods across Britain.

“However, with the sheer volume of daily traffic in and around the crossing, the main road link over the Thames, it’s not uncommon for us to experience delays.

“This has a huge knock-on effect for British exporters and importers, who rely on the Dartford Crossing as a key trading route. Delays in transit pose a risk to reputations, not to mention the financial consequences of not being able to meet consumer demand.

“For these businesses, who have already had to contend with changes in how goods move across borders post-Brexit, the Lower Thames Crossing promises a significant lifeline, streamlining connections into across the UK, into Europe and improving transit times.”

A question mark has hung over the future of the scheme since Labour’s election victory and its claims of being left with a “£22bn black hole” by the previous Tory administration. That prompted fears the £9bn project could be shelved.

Something the Europa boss believes would be an even more costly mistake in the long term. He adds: “It is estimated that £200 million is lost every year in productivity due to delays at the Dartford Crossing.

“With an emphasis now more than ever on cutting the red tape around trade, the proposed changes to Dartford’s road links could be instrumental in keeping Britain moving.”