PEOPLE are being urged to sign a petition against a new Thames Crossing in Thurrock in advance of a public meeting on the issue next month.
In April the council organised a meeting at the Orsett Hall, concentrating on the proposed Option C which would mean a major road or motorway crossing the Thames just to the east of Tilbury and joining the M25 close to South Ockendon, travelling through Green Belt and villages on the way.
At that meeting the council was asked to set up an online petition which at the time of publication had over 1,000 signatories.
Leader of Thurrock Council Cllr John Kent, said: “The petition asks the government to take the effect of free-flow tolling into account before making any final decisions on the crossing and they’re doing that now.
“But we have to keep up the pressure to make the government look at alternatives to the east and west of Thurrock.
“Our meeting on Thursday 11 September will look at both Option C and Option A – the one closest to the current crossing – as both will affect people living in the west of the borough in one way or another.
“But it’s open to all and we want people to come and express their opinions, not only about why it should not be here in Thurrock, but also where – if it is needed at all – it should be.”
The public meeting had been arranged for Thursday, 11 September – 6.30pm for a 7pm start – at the Culver Centre in Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon.
The online petition can be found at thurrock.gov.uk/thamescrossing
