LOCAL campaigners fighting plans to drive the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) through Thurrock have highlighted what they say is more spurious and misleading information put forward by National Highways to support the scheme.

The government quango has announced the possible use of hydrogen for construction machinery that would be used for the proposed crossing, if permission is granted and the project goes ahead. 

National Highways says it plans to buy the supply, storage and distribution of more than six million kilograms of hydrogen to use on the project, which will replace around 20 million litres of diesel.

Those opposed to the scheme believe this is an attempt to 'greenwash' the project, and say it is simply propaganda. They have detailed their claim here.

Laura Blake, Chair of Thames Crossing Action Group said: "There are no guarantees that any of this can or would happen, if the proposed crossing goes ahead. 

"Even if it did the cost of greener construction is predicted to be more than three times as much, and supply of green hydrogen is limited. Large amounts of electricity are needed to produce hydrogen, and this comes at a time when we have shortages of electricity in the country.

"The cost associated with greener construction would push the already high cost up even further, and force the already low Benefit Cost Ratio down. Value for money is something many, including government officials and the project examiners are already questioning.

"There is nothing green about the proposed LTC, it would be hugely destructive and harmful, and it fails to meet scheme objectives, it is simply not fit for purpose. We welcome the Climate Change Committee's call for an urgent review of all current and future road building, which we believe should result in the scrapping of the proposed LTC.

"Even if a source for the hydrogen is found, and government approved a project with a poor benefit cost ratio, what is being proposed in regard to the use of hydrogen still doesn't remove the estimated nearly five million tonnes of carbon emissions from operations of the LTC if it goes ahead.

"Talk of the proposed use of hydrogen as a way to help kick start the creation of a hydrogen ecosystem in the Thames Estuary, also leads to questions of how introducing more vehicles to service a hydrogen industry in the region would impact our roads, when the proposed LTC is supposed to be about reducing congestion. 

"The potential of growth being unlocked by the proposed LTC is something examiners of the project have already started asking questions about, due to the counterproductive nature of such matters."