Traffic levels in Kent have grown by nearly a quarter in 15 years - a greater rate than neighbours Essex, Surrey and most other counties in the south east.

The figures released by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) show transport is the fastest growing source of domestic carbon emissions.

It is calling for local authorities across the country to re-think their future road-building strategies, which it describes as “high carbon.”

Kent saw a 24 per cent increase in traffic levels from 1993 to 2007 compared to 20 per cent in East Sussex, 12 per cent in Surrey, 14 per cent in Essex, 19 per cent Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and 18 per cent in West Sussex.

Environmentalists are angry all counties across the country are increasing their transport emissions.

CPRE’s Senior Transport Campaigner Ralph Smyth said: “It is clear regional decision-makers are reluctant to face up to the incompatibility of rising traffic levels and lower carbon emissions. We need urgent investment in rail, bus, walking and cycle routes to

give people in all areas real choices for low-carbon travel.”

The CPRE says many local authorities have ignored the Climate Change Act of 2008 and are continuing with environmentally and economically unsustainable plans thought up before the credit crunch.

Mr Smyth added: “Transport Ministers should not accept the regions’ wish-lists unchanged. We need a dramatic increase in the proportion of sustainable transport schemes to make up for the regions’ failure to take carbon cuts seriously.”

Kent County Council Environment and Highways spokesman Phil Scrivener said: “We are producing our transport and highways strategy for Kent and we are working to reduce people’s reliance on cars and make better use of public transport and other alternatives, like cycling and walking.

“The draft version went to our transport board last week and this year we will be asking for the views of all interested parties.

~Listen: Director of the Kent branch of the CPRE, Hillary Newport, tells of the county's rising traffic menace>>>

“We are concerned to reduce pollution levels and carbon emissions and this transport strategy goes some way to addressing this.”