A coalition of conservation organisations have written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, calling for an immediate review of the Lower Thames Crossing. The scheme has been discussed in different forms for a number years, but campaigners say that a final review should take place, based on all evidence now. They say it should finally be scrapped on the basis of cost, environmental and climate impacts.
They argue that the planned road under the Thames would destroy irreplaceable ancient woodland, veteran trees and other habitats, increase nitrogen pollution, damage landscapes and increase carbon emissions.
These impacts would likely make this England’s most damaging road scheme for a generation, which is in stark contrast to claims by National Highways that it will be the ‘greenest road ever built in the UK’.
A range of natural habitats and landscapes in Kent and Essex are under threat, such as ancient woodland, the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the mosaic of open habitats in the Thames Estuary. But conservation organisations and the public have been left to guess the scale of impact. In addition, National Highways has only reluctantly released information regarding the scheme’s huge carbon footprint.
National Highways has just resubmitted its Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate. However, there are serious concerns that, the level of detail provided to the public through the various consultations has been entirely unacceptable. Without adequate information, there has been a severe lack of meaningful public engagement and consultation on this scheme.
A coalition of conservation organisations and groups have written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, calling for an immediate review of the Lower Thames Crossing. The scheme has been discussed in different forms for a number years, but campaigners say that it should finally be scrapped on the basis of cost, environmental and climate impacts.
The planned road scheme under the Thames would destroy irreplaceable ancient woodland, veteran trees and other habitats, increase nitrogen pollution, damage landscapes and increase carbon emissions.
These impacts would likely make this England’s most damaging road scheme for a generation, which is in stark contrast to claims by National Highways that it will be the ‘greenest road ever built in the UK’.
A range of natural habitats and landscapes in Kent and Essex are under threat, such as ancient woodland, the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the mosaic of open habitats in the Thames Estuary. But conservation organisations and the public have been left to guess the scale of impact. In addition, National Highways has only reluctantly released information regarding the scheme’s huge carbon footprint.
National Highways has just resubmitted its Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate. However, there are serious concerns that, the level of detail provided to the public through the various consultations has been entirely unacceptable. Without adequate information, there has been a severe lack of meaningful public engagement and consultation on this scheme.
Ploughing ahead with the proposed LTC will result in the loss of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodlands and wetlands
The coalition is asking Mark Harper to commit to an immediate review of the proposals in light of the ongoing flaws in the consultation and its failure to mee the Government’s own environmental commitments.
Jack Taylor, Lead Campaigner, Woodland Trust said ‘The loss of irreplaceable habitats and living legends is unacceptable. We’re fighting both a nature and climate crisis, and destruction of ancient woodland and veteran trees for a road scheme beggars belief’.
Hilary Newport, Director, CPRE Kent said ‘CPRE Kent has been frustrated by the lack of key information provided every stage of the consultation process. The last statutory consultation was back in 2018 and since then there have been multiple design changes’.
Laura Blake, Chair, Thames Crossing Action Group said ‘The proposed LTC is a hugely destructive and harmful project on so many levels; it fails to meet the scheme objectives, and would not solve the problems associated with the Dartford Crossing’.
Paul Hadaway, Director of Conservation for Kent Wildlife Trust said ‘Kent Wildlife Trust share the concerns of other organisations that, given the lack of detailed information made publicly available, the LTC development will be harmful to wildlife, the environment and the population’.
