by political editor Paul Francis

pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk

A third Thames crossing could cost £1bn to build but bring 12 times that sum into the economy and create 6,000 jobs in north Kent, say county transport chiefs.

But at least half the money needed to build it would have to come from tolls.

Kent county council has re-affirmed its support for a new crossing in its latest transport masterplan, saying it is vital to ease continuing congestion and must be built to create new jobs and safeguard investment.

Meanwhile, the government has confirmed it has abandoned plans by the previous Labour government to sell off the crossing, citing its strategic importance to the area.

In a report setting out its draft transport policies, the council says delays on the existing crossing are costing the UK economy £40m a year and the situation will only become worse as traffic levels continue to increase.

While it estimates the building costs would be in the region of £1bn, the report contends it would bring in £12.7bn of investment and create 6,000 jobs in north Kent and south Essex, describing that as "an outstanding rate of return."

The report suggests around £500m of the capital costs could be met by tolls on the existing bridge - which are set to rise to £2.50 each way by 2012 as part of unexpected government plans announced last week.

If KCC’s preferred option of a crossing east of Gravesend to the M20 and linking to the M11 was supported by the government, then eight times as many jobs could be created.

Cllr Nick Chard, KCC cabinet member for transport, said: "There is widespread recognition that the current crossing is at capacity, there are too many delays and no real alternative if either the tunnels or bridge is closed. If we had a third crossing east of Gravesend, it would link directly with the M11 and take a lot of pressure off the existing crossing but would have the additional benefit of improving the prospects for regeneration of Gravesend, the Eastern Quarry area and a large area of land in Kent and Essex."

Asked how the building costs would be met, he said: "Most of us expected that tolls would end once the bridge was built. However, we all know that we need a new crossing and recognise the government does not have the money to fund it alone. While we might not like it, the practicality is that it would need to be tolled."

The government says it is weighing up the three options for new crossings that were first set out in April this year.

They are:

• At the site of the existing crossing
• Between the Swanscombe Peninsula and the A1089
• From east of Tilbury to east of Gravesend to the M20
• You can read KCC’s draft Local Transport Plan 2011-2016 atwww.kent.gov.uk/LTP3