Representation by Robert Rudge
- Date submitted
- 10 January 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
My representation will include why I am against this planned development. It is a costly, environmentally disastrous, civil engineering project that is in the wrong place. Many better options have been discounted and yet Highways England / National Highways has resolutely stuck to ‘Plan C’ throughout the last few years. Costs of the project have dramatically increased, environmental issues seem to have been blurred. If an M25 / A282 relief road project was started today it would not be in this location. The Lower Thames Crossing is too little too late, it will be close to capacity by the time it opens. The budget seems to be wasteful and expensive for an infrastructure project that will not achieve sufficient traffic headroom and could become over capacity within in a relatively short period. Highways England has chosen a construction site that is the worst of several options. The original option B was probably the best option but that was cancelled for a theme park that has now been cancelled. The consultation period has been long and drawn out whilst any normal member of the public who took has been expected to understand engineering jargon to a higher level. The Jargon has put many objectors off, which was probably the point. Environmentally it is of poor quality during and after completion, the local area will be impacted and the relative health of the area will be damaged. The level of 'Green washing' Highways England has used is just biased manipulation of the green issues. This project needs to be sent back to the drawing board.