A CAMPAIGN group opposing the proposed Lower Thames Crossing has been critical of recently announced plans to create country parks either side of the planned tunnel under the Thames, saying they have been put forward simply to allow Highways England to dump material from the construction process in a cheaper way.

It describes the plans by the agency as 'greenwash' and say they confirm the underhand methods employed by the government and Highways England to dupe local residents.

The idea of a new park either side of the tunnel is not new, but the latest consultation process gives more details of the plans for the parks, called Tilbury Fields on the north bank and Chalk Park to the south of the river.

The Thames Crossing Action Group says: "This may sound nice at face value, but we feel there are some things we should all take into account when considering this aspect of the proposal.

"Highways England are proposing this park around the area of the proposed northern tunnel portals of the crossing would be approximately 45 hectares.

"The figure previously suggested for the height of this raised man made mound was 16.5m above the ordnance datum level (height of the mean sea level).

"However, now HE are proposing the add more land forms in this new 'park' and raise them up to 22.5 metres (that's over 73ft high). We checked the height of an average double decker bus, and it's 4.95 metres (16 ft 3 in) high. That means what HE are proposing for this land form is a high as approx 4.5 double decker buses stacked upon each other.

"This land is currently agricultural land, it is also flood plain. If this land is built up with these large land forms where will the flood plain water go? Flooding and flood plains in regard to LTC is an update we have already published before.

"HE admit that they would be using tunnel spoil to make these landforms, which would also conveniently make their carbon emissions figures better to suit their own needs to trying to push through a hugely destructive project. Do we really believe the 'parks' have been added for the benefit of the people, or is it to suit the needs of HE?

"How does the loss of agricultural land. not only impact farmers, but also the local food supply? How many more food miles and how much extra carbon would be generated due to the loss of the agricultural land?

"Highways England included some info about Tilbury Fields in the July 2021 LTC Task Force meeting.

"In their presentation there was mention of potential for a coastal footpath in the vicinity of the northern tunnel portal. They said it would run along the River Thames from Tilbury Fort and the Thurrock Thameside Nature Discovery Park. The thing is we already know that route already exists, with the main section of it known as the 2 Forts Way between Tilbury Fort and Coalhouse Fort. Not the first time HE have attempted to suggest a 'new' path where one already exists, we've seen it when they've detailed Public Rights of Way in regard to the Lower Thames Crossing.

"And who wants to spend time in parks next to a busy road like the Lower Thames Crossing? Time next to polluting roads is not good for anyone.

"Agricultural land and flood plain would be destroyed and lost, which would have negative impacts for the farmer and also the environment. Now more than ever we need the miles our food travels to be as little as possible, we shouldn't be destroying agricultural land and increasing the carbon footprint of our food supplies even more.

"The way Highways England keeps using the terminology of 'open space' gets to us too, if you already have open fields then the space is open and can only be more open without a huge road like LTC running through it, stop trying to make out you're magically creating some new space HE we're not buying it.

"We also question the impacts to nature and wildlife, because after all while HE are suggesting this is 'new open space' and all the other greenwash they imply, these areas will already have their own biodiversity, and there is no doubt to us that a huge new road like LTC is not positive for the wildlife, environment or any of us.

"Dumping huge amounts of spoil and changing habitats is not necessarily a good thing for wildlife or the habitats, marshes, flood plains etc.

"So let's not get caught up in HE's greenwash, and instead remember it suits HE greatly to dump all their spoil so close to the tunnel portals. The reality is that the Lower Thames Crossing would do more harm than good."