Many Rochester and Strood residents will be aware of the Highways England preferred Second Lower Thames Crossing option and the current consultation, as detailed earlier this year. However, there are now less than two weeks left for residents to have their say on the proposed new Lower Thames Crossing, and I would therefore encourage as many people as possible to make their representations.
This is a major issue that will face our area over the years and decades to come, which is why the consultation should reflect the true feelings of everyone whom will be affected. The scale of the project will mean a much changed area to the West of Medway, but that of course will not mean our community will be unaffected, whether for better or worse.
As stated previously, I stand against the proposed Option C on the principle of there being no defined infrastructure strategy to renovate our already congested and struggling road systems around Medway’s towns and villages, which will only be exacerbated under proposed housing plans. Whatever option is taken forwards, there has to be evident improvements for our local area rather than bring further troubles. It is my opinion that Option C does not provide the appropriate answers for the current Dartford Crossing issues.
I am aware that there are also a significant number of business and environmental factors that need necessary consideration by those undertaking the consultation. I believe it is greatly important that our views are heard and understood so we can secure what is genuinely best for Medway and North Kent as a wider region.
The consultation page can accessed here and is open until 24 March at 11:45pm: https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/cip/lower-thames-crossing-consultation