Business survey results are in

Published: 7 March, 2024 | Tags: , ,

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) have presented the results of the survey of local businesses that was to establish the impact on them of the loss of Eurostar services in Kent. 99% of businesses who responded want the return of the international train services because the withdrawal of the service has hit their bottom line.

The survey was commissioned last October by ABC, Dartford Borough Council and the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. The results were presented on 5th March and reported by Kent Online and BBC Kent.

Presenting the results, Mark Welch – transport planning chief for the county council – said that the survey received 686 responses representing 528 different businesses, which together employ at least 30,000 people in Kent and the wider country. 99% of the businesses which responded wanted a reinstatement of all Eurostar services from the Kent stations, and 89% said the lack of international rail routes is damaging their business.

Tourism to Kent has also been impacted, according to Derek Murphy, KCC cabinet member for economic development. He said: “Without trains from Paris, Lille, Calais, Brussels and Amsterdam stopping in Kent, overseas visitor numbers have decreased.”

These results and more will be presented at the webinar planned by BBET for 20th March at 6.30pm GMT. The webinar will be open to the public but spaces are limited so participants will be asked to register via EventBrite. We will publish as link for this as soon as possible.

The webinar will also give an update about the petition which has now topped 48,000 signatures, and a chance to hear from Damian Green MP who took the issue to Parliament last year.