THURROCK Council Leader, Cllr John Kent, has called on the government to “come clean” with its plans for Junctions 30/31 of the M25 as soon as possible.
Speaking on Monday (29 April), he said: “There has been much talk about improvements to Junction 30 in the debate around whether another river crossing is needed.
“I have been saying for around 2½ years that the government needs to ‘invest fully’ in junction improvements while others claim that’s going to happen anyway.
“Thurrock Council has said it wants those improvements made now – along with the free-flow tolling at the crossing – because the congestion is already a problem for local businesses.”
He said: “The problem is today, not ten or 12 years down the line; the congestion is today not even one or two years away. Our businesses are suffering today and they need help today if our aim for jobs and prosperity – not just in Thurrock but throughout south Essex, north Kent and even east London – is to come true.”
Cllr Kent added: ““The government has promised a £150 million investment in improving the M25-A13 interchange, but I ask is that enough? Will it ensure free flowing traffic east-west and north-south? Will it come soon enough? Will it last the test of time when DP World is fully developed?
“In one short meeting officers have briefly seen a couple of proposals from the Highways Agency but they took the drawings away for more work.
“We don’t know if one proposal has been chosen over another, whether there’s a combination or even something totally new. We don’t know how much extra road capacity we might get after another five years – it’s expected to be completed in 2018. Then there’s the question of how long after this will the junction need up-grading again?
“Whatever the answers, it won’t be ‘spade ready’ to use some current jargon even if we see the plans tomorrow.
“We also need these questions answered. How do the proposed A13 improvements link in? If the A13 from Five Bells to the Dock Approach isn’t improved at the same time, the east-west traffic will come to a standstill very quickly as the DP World project comes on line.
“This, combined with the Tilbury port and Lakeside expansions as well as the Purfleet developments, will jam up the major trunk roads and motorway around the borough. In turn, that will mean our smaller streets, the back-doubles, towns and villages will also grind to a halt.
“I am calling on the government and the Highways Agency to come clean and show us exactly what they’re proposing and exactly who is going to pay for it. We have local issues, but the magnitude of these developments and their impact makes this a national imperative.
“This is something that our national government needs to lead on because the future of GB plc is at stake. Thurrock Council has to make waves to help the borough’s economy expand, but we all – Thurrock, south Essex. the south-east, England as a whole, and Great Britain – need to know the proper amount of investment is on the way … and soon!”
Taxpayers could always ask John Kent where is the money from land and asset sales? It would appear Thurrock Council is employing Mickey Mouse to value them so they get flogged at bargain basement prices!
Show me the money? to be fair how the hell can they Labour gave it all to the banksters.
This may be a naive question but why did the Labour party dream up and bring into being the Thames Gateway development Corporation. Was this just another political waste of money on behalf of the Labour party to have their plans for tens of thousands of flats along the Thames Gateway rubber stamped to house their incoming hoardes. Were the Labour party that blind to what was going to happen to the South East with their immigration policies. I think not, I think they knew exactly. If he wants someone to blame he needs to look in the mirror and at his party.
…John, now is the time to consider London Thames Global Airport & Cruise Liner Terminal in association with Thurrock SmartCity development….delivered in under 10 years…on time, in budget….jobs and sustainable growth….
John you should join Comedy night “you John want to sort the traffic out” then why an earth put a Lorry park in Oliver the consist of 500 extra HGVs the will grid lock the A13 And M25 , but John you make me laugh even more “you know the goverment are going to invest in the highways so Brillant just Jump on the bandwagon and make it look like your doing all the hard work. in your group . furthermore i have it on very good authority you will have somebodie thats very good with psychology very close to you soon perhaps she will learn you how to pull a very good poker face,