Representation by Stuart Dixon
- Date submitted
- 25 January 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project comprising 14 miles of Trunk Road linking the A2 and M25 through a Tunnel under the River Thames at Gravesend (LTC). According to Government procurement strategy: The right model for public sector construction procurement in the UK is one in which: clients issue a brief that concentrates on required performance and outcome; designers and constructors work together to develop an integrated solution that best meets the required outcome. Recommending the LTC in its current iteration is a difficult decision to make. There is potential for inequality and further harm to be done in the current approach. This is contrary to the government environment and climate change committee, who say government must support behaviour change to meet climate targets. Given the number of changes in the political, economic, social and technical factors used in the original design occurring since inception, there is public concern as to whether the infrastructure proposed by the application is appropriate. Also doubt as to whether the plan proposed can be modified without reverting to another option. In the design of any procurement, specification of functional (what needs to be done) and non-functional requirements (how it is achieved) is the concern of the project. Roles need to be respected in the design process, while the influence by potential suppliers is managed. The client here, are local communities, and community groups affected by the problem or proposed solution. The role of global victims of climate change need also to be considered. The influence on the design and choice of the solution should be protected from another role, road users, who are themselves heavily influenced by the petrochemical industry, the motor industry and the construction industry and possibly the government who are old school and subject to lobbying. If that were the case, the specification and plan before PINS would be very different. The aim of this submission is to ask for PINS not to recommend this project to the SoS for Transport if it has any doubt about the roles of the people specifying and approving the specification and choice of the solution being presented. Also to ask that the following short list of changes are fully considered in the resulting re-design: • Pandemic. Lessons Learnt about Air Quality. • Brexit • Levelling up. • New and improved ports on the East Coast, North of the Thames. • Shifts in the market for EV's. A battery factory has gone into liquidation. EV's emit CO2 and Particulates. • The Cost of living crisis. • Better Broadband • Better technology (AI) (ANPR). • Attitude change • pedestrian zones • Active Travel. • Working from home • Greater Knowledge about the climate and the effects of pollution. • Social media. • Delivery services with massive warehousing. • Climate change and nature dominate the headlines. • ULEZ and LEZ are seen as solutions to climate change and nature loss • War and Conflict, Globalisation. • The petrochemical industry and motor industries have both been discredited and yet heavily influence the need for road traffic. • Plans for a Tramway between Kent and Essex include a tunnel. Etc.