Representation by Emma Nicholson
- Date submitted
- 24 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I strongly oppose NH plans for the LTC. We are in a climate emergency and the emissions from this project are forecast to be 6.6 million tonnes. Wales has just suspended all roadbuilding projects as a reflection of how serious the climate situation is yet NH continues to pretend 6.6 million tonnes can be managed with unproven offsetting schemes. This objective of lowering congestion at the Dartford Crossing will not be solved by this scheme. The Dartford Crossing will still be over capacity. It is therefore hard to understand the justification for the 10 billion cost of such a project. The BCR of this project is 1.22 before a spade has been put in the ground. Given the history of major infrastructure projects the cost will skyrocket and the cost will never be repaid in economic gain. It will be hideously bad value for the taxpayer. Nor will it be good for the health and wellbeing of local communities due to the increased airpollution and severance it will inevitably create. This scheme causes a loss of habitat, farmland and woodland just as reports are released on the importance of biodiversity. This scheme goes against every government policy of climate, biodiversity, net gain and airpollution and it is astonishing that there is an effort to push this scheme through before legislation makes it completely unviable.