A PUBLIC meeting about planned Thames crossings this week will look at a wide range of information.
The meeting – at the Culver Centre, Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon on Thursday (11 September) at 6.30 for a 7pm start – will include information about planned crossings in London, air quality predictions in Thurrock, and issues around proposed crossings to the east of Thurrock.
Cllr John Kent, leader of Thurrock Council, said: “I urge everyone interested about how the proposed crossings – Option A near the present bridge and tunnels, and Option C, through the Green Belt, Orsett and the fens towards the M25 just north of Ockendon – to come along.
“The increasing pressure for new crossings in the east of London has made a tremendous and positive difference to our argument that no new crossing is needed in Thurrock.
“In addition I understand that the so-called Option D thrown out five years ago should now be back in the mix if the numbers are looked at properly.”
Cllr Kent said: “As time has gone on the arguments in our favour keep getting stronger.
“We have constantly said no new crossing us needed in Thurrock.
“The government has listened as far as waiting to consider the effect of free-flow tolls, now we want them to look at how proposed new east London crossings, and especially the Rainham to Belvedere crossing, will change the numbers and whether Option D should be reconsidered too.
“These are the arguments we will be putting to the Parliamentary Select Committee in the next few weeks, and I have no doubt our arguments are right, but we need to be able to show Thurrock people are in agreement.
“If you haven’t signed the petition launched after our last public meeting in April, then please do so now by logging on to the council’s website and following the links through Travel and transport.”
