THURROCK’S Labour candidate for parliament, Polly Billington has written to the Transport Secretary, Louise Ellman to ask if Thurrock Council can speak at an inquiry into the Dartford Crossing.
Here is the letter in full
Dear Ms Ellman,
I am writing to you in your role as chair of the Transport Select Committee, requesting that Thurrock Borough Council is able to give oral evidence to the Committee’s inquiry into strategic river crossings.
As you are aware, there are plans for a new Lower Thames Crossing but the route of the crossing has yet to be decided. It appears that the decision will now be postponed until after the General Election, leaving our community with continuing uncertainty and frustration that we are not being heard.
Both the routes currently under consideration run through Thurrock. There has been little or no explanation by government as to why any new crossing should pass through this community, which already suffers from poor air quality, noise pollution and threats to its green belt. Congestion and poor infrastructure risk being made worse by a crossing of national importance being driven though our community. Earlier proposals for the position of a crossing of the Thames east of London included other options which have been dropped with no good explanation. At least one of them – Option D – should be reconsidered.
Thurrock Council has significant contributions to make to the Inquiry based on their experiences of engaging with the decision-making process on this crossing proposal.
The situation currently risks that the wrong decisions will be made, late and with no consent from the local community. Whatever the national benefits of any crossing (and they are doubtful), they risk being severely damaged by the way the decision-making process has been conducted.
Thurrock Council has worked hard to gather the information required to present its case – one largely supported by residents – that neither of the options currently on the table are viable because of the adverse impacts the crossing would have on the local area.
The decision on where and whether we have a Lower Thames Crossing is arguably more important in terms of national infrastructure than High Speed Rail. And yet the process means the decision could be the wrong one with bad consequences both nationally and locally.
It is for these reasons that I would urge you to invite Thurrock Council to make their case to you and the committee face to face. I believe it would inform your inquiry into strategic river crossings and help bring attention nationally to an important decision about the country’s infrastructure that risks being made without the full understanding of the facts when it comes to the impact on the residents of Thurrock.
I do hope you are able to consider this request. I look forward to your reply.
