More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
New plans for the Lower Thames Crossing have been branded "nonsense" by some people who have questioned whether the project will work.
The final round of public consultations are under way across Kent for the multi-billion pound tunnel plan, proposed near Gravesend, which would link Kent to Essex via a new tunnel.
Listen to Matt Palmer, executive director of the Lower Thames Crossing
Changes to the scheme include more public open space to the east of the tunnel entrance in Gravesham, connected to Chalk Park – the proposed new space overlooking the Thames. There are also plans for better bridleway connections around the A2 junction and the A226.
The design of a new public park on the north bank of the Thames has been altered.
Access to the northern tunnel entrance in Thurrock has been modified to provide safer operation of the facilities and better access for emergency services.
There are also plans to replace an existing slip road with a new link from the Orsett Cock roundabout to the A1089 in Thurrock to reduce traffic impacts on some local roads, and a new footbridge over the A127 in Havering and improvements to pathways for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Other changes to landscaping proposals have been made, as well as changes to utilities in the area and additional environmental compensation and mitigation.
The revised plans could also see large swathes of farmland used to soak up pollution from the new tunnel as part of efforts to mitigate nitrogen emissions from traffic.
But it seems a lot of people are not on board with the proposals for the estimated £8.2bn tunnel.
Speaking at a consultation on Friday, Geoff Busbridge from Chalk said he thought that option B should now be reconsidered as the London Resort theme park plans have been put on hold.
Option B, which proposed connecting the A2 Swanscombe Peninsula with the A1089 in Essex, was written off in 2013 because of the impact on local development plans and limited transport benefits.
The 72-year-old said: "I am totally against it. It is the outer M25 in the making by scope. It makes no sense, they have so much wrong. If it is coming here, we do not want it.
"I am not impressed at all. I think we are losing more than we are gaining. I would rather not see it there at all."
"It has been more than nine years of consultation and now this nine years of construction is going to be 15 years and so on."
Andrew Watson, from Thong Village, was also against the plans. He said: "I am not impressed at all. I think we are losing more than we are gaining. I would rather not see it there at all.
"They say traffic will not be a problem but what happens when there is an issue at Dartford? The answer I got was 'we cannot plan for instances like that'.
He added: "To me, it is not going to do anything other than place the Dartford problems in Gravesend and Essex.
"It is nonsense. It is no wonder people are so vocal in their objections. It just disappoints me. Is it going to work?"
The 74-year-old raised concerns over local roads which he believes will not be able to cope with the increase in traffic.
The ambitious 14-mile road project would be built east of Gravesend and is designed to help ease congestion at the Dartford Crossing.
Although not entirely happy with the proposal, Helen Perrin, 75, of Gravesend, said she saw the need for the project.
"I think it is necessary to have it around there because of the congestion at Dartford but I do not know how it is going to affect us," she said.
"I might be gone by the time it has happened. I cannot imagine it really. Wherever I go, I will have to go past it. It will impact us getting about.
"I think it is going to happen and I think it is needed to take the goods everywhere and relieve congestion."
National Highways says it aims to submit an application for a development consent order later this year.
Matt Palmer, executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing, said: "The changes we are consulting on are not really about the road but how the road fits with the environment around it.
"There is a lot of recognition by lots of people especially in North Kent around the blight Dartford puts on them and the need for something. Fifty per cent would tell you 'yes, we need something' but the second question is 'is it in the right place?'
"A lot of the conversations going around is about ancient woodland: Are we minimising or maximising green spaces? How do we get to and from so and so?
"We have 20km of new bridleways and footpaths in Kent and it is seeing how they link. There are a lot of questions about it."
He added: "There are also a lot of conversations about what happens next and construction.
"We are really conscious we are coming in and changing the environment around people and we need to do that opening and consciously."
To view the consultation website click here. The site includes videos, an interactive map, and documents, which can also be delivered to homes free of charge or picked up from libraries.
Anyone who has questions can speak to a member of the project team through a telephone call back service or at a nearby consultation event.
Consultation events will be held on the following dates:
Consultation comments can be submitted at Cuxton Library, Gravesend Library, Maidstone Library, and Snodland Library.
Information points can be found at Coldharbour Library, Dartford Library, Higham Library, Larkfield Library, Meopham Library, Riverview Park Library, Shorne Woods Visitor Centre, and Strood Library.
