Lower Thames Crossing: Dartford council leader calls for go ahead

An artist's impression of the route on the north side of the Thames

A council leader says the government should go ahead with plans for a tunnel crossing which would link between Kent and Essex.

Conservative councillor and Dartford Borough Council leader Jeremy Kite said the Lower Thames Crossing would ease congestion in the district.

It would be the longest car tunnel in the UK, stretching 2.6 miles (4.1km) under the Thames.

The government has been approached for comment.

The road would connect the M2 and A2 in Kent with the M25 in Essex via a new tunnel under the Thames estuary to the east of Tilbury on the north bank and Gravesend on the south.

If approved, work to build the Lower Thames Crossing would start in 2026

The project is currently being looked at by the Planning Inspectorate, who will hold their final series of hearings in the coming weeks.

If approved, the work would start in 2026.

But Mr Kite said the government must "get on with it".

"They need to push the button and make it happen," he said.

"We get very bad air quality, a very bad quality of life, people miss appointments, can't get to school, operations are cancelled. It has a nightmarish effect on Dartford."

The Lower Thames Crossing would be the longest car tunnel in the UK

However, Siân Berry, who will be the Green candidate for Brighton Pavilion at the next election, said building new roads generates more traffic.

"You'd seen the same of traffic filling it up again within no time," he said.

"We'd be much better off finding ways to take the freight by rail, to use northern ports for northern destinations."

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