Thurrock Council at the northern side of the Lower Thames Crossing between Essex and Kent is questioning the scheme’s viability, saying it has “significant concerns”.

The Thurrock Gazette reports that Council Leader Rob Gledhill has written to Simon Clarke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury saying it has “significant concerns” about the scheme, commenting, “The Council believes the current project is no longer achieving its stated aims and that the basis for the project needs to be re-examined.

“This is due to significant and exceptional domestic and international challenges and events over the preceding three years. The council’s concerns are exacerbated by poor engagement by National Highways, especially in relation to sharing key information about local impacts.”

Cllr Gledhill added: “The council contests that insufficient evidence has been presented to demonstrate that there are scheme benefits that outweigh these impacts, or that alternatives could not be identified that would deliver a better balance between local impact and strategic benefit.”

The report says a 75-page document consultation response document will be presented to council next week before being sent for inclusion in the National Highways consultation on the the £8.2 billion new road, which will link Kent with Essex.

(Picture – National Highways)