A CAMPAIGN group has announced it will not be seeking a judicial review of the decision by the government to give planning approval to the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) because it believes public opinion and the project's increasing cost means it will not happen.

The Transport Action Network says, despite there being good grounds, such as the out-of-date and incomplete traffic modelling justifying the scheme it believes that due to the weakness of the scheme a more effective challenge would be in the political and economic arenas, not in the courts.

It says National Highways cannot build the motorway crossing because it doesn't have the money and neither does the Government. 

It says private investment is also far from guaranteed, with markets increasingly volatile and investors cautious, because the LTC represents a high-risk project. 

"Even with private finance, at least £6 billion of public money would be required, possibly up to £9 billion," says the Network.

"This makes the LTC unaffordable as well as incredibly poor value for money for taxpayers.

"At a time of extreme fiscal pressures, every nation and region in the UK will have to forego rail, tram and other public transport improvements to pay for the LTC. 

"That will make it politically unacceptable to pour more money into the South East, not just on the LTC but all the other associated road schemes needed to make it function. "At the same time there is a £24bn backlog in local roads and bridge maintenance that the UK Government is failing to tackle."

The director of TAN is Chris Todd, who has come under fire in the national media recently, being accused of costing the county hundreds of millions with facile judicial challenges. 

Chris Todd. Damned by the Daily Telegraph.

The Daily Telegraph branded him a 'road Rage NIMBY' (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/09/chris-todd-britains-costliest-nimby/) and the Daily Express described him as an 'angry activist'.(https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2039909/man-complains-roads-motorways/amp).

However, he remains undaunted, saying: "The Lower Thames Crossing makes no sense on so many levels and is far from popular.

"We don't believe it will go ahead, with or without a legal challenge. It is also a 'smart' motorway, loathed by motorists. To make matters even worse it's a 'smart' motorway constrained in a tunnel with all the safety concerns that raises.

"We don't need to go to the courts to make these and other points. We also don't want to give National Highways an excuse for the costs of the LTC inevitably rising. The M3 Junction 9 scheme saw its costs rocket 35% in two years with no legal challenges from us or anyone else.

"We believe that we will see something similar with the LTC.

"TAN will be highlighting how hard-pressed taxpayers in every nation and region in the UK will be paying for the LTC. They will have to forgo much needed rail, tram and other public transport upgrades to pay for yet another flashy new road in the South East. 

"Despite the hopes of embattled Labour Ministers, the LTC will just fuel the rise in dissatisfaction in politicians and the rise of Reform. This is at the same time that people continue to see their own local roads crumble despite government announcements of more money for potholes."

TAN was set up five years' ago by Mr Todd, to help communities press for better (more sustainable) transport.

Also see:

Chorus of disapproval: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/chorus-of-disapproval-grows-in-wake-of-lower-thames-crossing-green-light-256069

Sickening and madness: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/sickening-madness-and-misleading-caustic-views-on-government-decision-to-start-work-on-lower-thames-crossing-255660

Chancellor slammed: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/chancellor-slammed-and-thames-crossing-cash-search-is-not-welcomed-by-borough-councillors-251048