Transport chiefs lobbied MPs to build a new Lower Thames Crossing and redesign stretches of Kent’s motorway at a summit on infrastructure investment.

A panel of five MPs from the county sat in front of more than 75 business people and council leaders at the event organised by the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership.

They heard from Port of Dover chief executive Tim Waggott and rail consultant Vince Lucas, who spoke about measures they felt could avoid gridlock and overcrowding on Kent’s roads and train routes.

This included a new Lower Thames Crossing, redesigning Junction 7 of the M2, known as Brenley Corner, and dualling the A2 from Lydden to Dover.

The panel was chaired by Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke and featured Ashford MP and Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green, North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale, South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay and Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst.

There was agreement from the panel, businesses and councils that extending the Crossrail service to Ebbsfleet, and ideally Gravesend, would help grow the economy and regenerate north Kent.

Mr Waggott argued increasing road capacity is needed because of the Port of Dover’s crucial role in the nation’s economy, handling 17% of the UK’s trade in goods.

If it were a separate country, it would have the 55th biggest economy in the world, he said, handling over 10,000 trucks every day.

Together with Eurotunnel, the cross-Channel corridor handles £220 billion of UK trade in goods.

Mr Lucas, director of VA Rail Consulting, suggested extending the length of high speed trains to 12 carriages to avoid overcrowding and providing a shuttle service between Ebbsfleet and London to support the development of the garden city.

The summit, held at the Maidstone TV Studios on Friday, also heard from representatives from Mid-Kent College, Canterbury Christ Church University and the Kent and Medway Skills Commission, who discussed the skills needed to support the proposals.

Panel chair Mr Elphicke said: “It was great to hear from so many business and council leaders on their priorities over the next 10 years.

“Everyone knows Brexit will present challenges – but there will also be real opportunities to build the sort of Britain we want.

“It’s clear we need investment in Kent’s roads and railways. The A2 must be dualled and we need to get on with building the Lower Thames Crossing.

“We must act now to prevent gridlock and delays which would affect the whole country, not just Kent.

“Meanwhile, we simply have to increase capacity on our train services to meet demand.”

Panel member Miss Tolhurst added: “Kent as a whole is home to some of our nation’s most important pieces of infrastructure.

"We have major ports, key road and rail routes linking us with the continent, growing business and technology parks, energy production and excellent academic centres.

"While we can be proud of this, it is important we build momentum and increase investment or risk falling behind other parts of the country.”

Geoff Miles, chairman of Kent and Medway Economic Partnership, and co-owner of Maidstone Studios, said: “We are delighted that Kent and Medway MPs, chaired by Charlie Elphicke, have been so receptive to our request to lobby Government for this infrastructure, which will maximise our global competitiveness as a nation.”