The interim update on the Lower Thames Crossing consultation held last year has just been released and can be viewed here.

At the end of 2018 the most comprehensive consultation Highways England has ever undertaken was undertaken. They received a record-breaking response, with around 15,000 people attending 60 events and almost 29,000 people sharing their views on the proposals.

The interim update summarises the key themes they heard during consultation, sets out levels of support for and opposition to the proposals, and details some of the suggestions made as to how they can improve the design of the scheme. Highways England will publish a full consultation report as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

The consultation responses were analysed by Traverse, an independent company specialising in public consultations. Traverse’s executive summary of the issues can be viewed on their website.

The level of detail both in the feedback they received through the consultation and from the comprehensive programme of ground investigations undertaken, has resulted in them wanting to take additional time to improve proposals and to develop the DCO application. They now intend to submit the DCO application in summer 2020.

This does not, however, impact on the overall programme, as the target of opening the Lower Thames Crossing in 2027 remains unchanged.

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A series of information events have been arranged for August and September for where the local community can meet members of the team to discuss the update, as well as any other project-related questions or concerns. The schedule of events north of the River Thames is as follows:

Tuesday 13 August, 10am – 7pm, Grays Town Centre, High Street, Grays, RM17 6LU.

Wednesday 14 August, 10am – 7pm, Grays Town Centre, High Street, Grays, RM17 6LU.

Thursday 15 August, 10am – 5pm, Outside Upminster Library, 6 Corbets Tey Road, Upminster RM14 2BB

Thursday 22 August, 10am – 5pm, Bay Tree Shopping Centre, Brentwood, CM14 4BX

Wednesday 4 September, 10am – 9pm, Lakeside Shopping Centre RM20 2ZG (Level 1)

Thursday 5 September, 10am – 10pm, Lakeside Shopping Centre RM20 2ZG (Level 1)

By Editor on 23rd July 2019   /   Lower Thames Crossing, News   /   Leave a comment