Lower Thames Crossing meeting with Roads Minister

Stephen Metcalfe, Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock, has met with local campaigners and councillors to discuss Lower Thames Crossing plans with Roads Minister Andrew Jones MP.

(l-r) George Abbott, Matt Jackson, Andrew Jones MP,
Cllr John Kent, Cllr Brian Little, and Stephen Metcalfe MP

At the private meeting, which took place yesterday in Westminster, the group discussed the recent Highways England consultation that received in excess of 30,000 responses and sought assurances from the minister that no final decision has been taken on plans for the new crossing.

Also in attendance were Cllr John Kent, Leader of Thurrock Council, Orsett Cllr Brian Little, Chair of the Transport scrutiny committee, and local resident campaigners George Abbott and Matt Jackson.

Mr Metcalfe commented: "I was pleased to help organise this productive meeting with the minister from the Department for Transport, Andrew Jones MP.

"We all made the case to the minister that the Lower Thames Crossing will involve huge levels of investment and that the ongoing process must be handled carefully and properly.

"The minister assured us that no decision has yet been made. He agreed that he would consider the points we made about problems with the existing crossing and Option C, and that he would also investigate how the possibility of a crossing further east from Option C came to be discounted."

He added: "The Lower Thames Crossing is a key issue for our area and it is crucial that the right decision is made. I will keep working hard to ensure that our local communities have a voice in Westminster."