This morning the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, announced the preferred route for the Lower Thames Crossing, involving a tunnel crossing under the River Thames east of Gravesend and Tilbury.
A second crossing has long been needed to alleviate the severe congestion at Dartford, which causes havoc for Medway commuters heading to London each day. However, as I have stated before, when I look at the Option C plan confirmed today it is clear that it has not been fully thought through and risks further traffic woes for Kent.
The fact that the preferred crossing option leads onto a regularly congested section of the A2 – without significant plans to upgrade – it will lead to greater congestion on what is a vital artery for the South East and national economy. We cannot be left with a situation where the problems currently affecting the A2 are pushed further into the already pressured towns and villages of Medway and Gravesham.
There is also no consideration of the proposed increase of housing across North Kent, with 30,000 homes planned for Medway alone, with most targeted around the Peninsula. Elsewhere in North Kent, the Ebbsfleet Garden City and the proposed Paramount Park attraction will mean more motorists adding pressure to our roads.
Similarly, there is evidently no strategic thought around the additional air pollution that will come with extra traffic and congestion in an already impacted area, nor the environmental impacts on the ground. For instance, it is sad that the tunnel and link road east of Gravesend will destroy one of the area’s most beautiful natural spaces, enjoyed by many across North Kent. It is unfortunate that it is our community that will be an afterthought.
While this is disappointing, I will now move my focus to encouraging the Government to think hard around these impending consequences. If we are to have the new crossing in our community we must have the assurances that the appropriate localised infrastructure and environmental strategies come with it, and I will be doing all I can to achieve this over the years ahead.