More controversy as government hands out a billion for roads - half of which will be used to 'unlock' Lower Thames Crossing funding
MORE controversy and little factual information about financing has added to the continued confusion and concern about the viability of the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.
The scheme, linking north Kent with the M25 via a Thames tunnel and dual carriageway driven through the heart of Thurrock, has been a source of controversy and contention since it was first mooted more than a decade ago.
Around £1.2 billion has already been spent on the project, which is expected to cost £10 billion to complete – though the government has no viable financial structure in place.
Its intent is to find a financial partner for the project, but that search has now been going on for the best part of a year, with no visible success.
The state of confusion and public concern about the project was encapsulated in a LBC radio broadcast and video on yesterday's Nick Ferrari programme. Treasury minister Emma Reynolds was quizzed by the veteran broadcaster about the project and struggled to answer questions – resulting in national ridicule about her, and the government's competence.
Mr Ferrari said: "What does this say about the economic stewardship of this country?"
The interview, described as a car crash, can be viewed here.
Yesterday (Monday, 16 June) a £1bn package was announced by the government to improve transport infrastructure across England. The bulk of the money will be spent on repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels across Britain, and 'ensuring other transport infrastructure is both more resilient to extreme weather events and to the demands of modern transport'.
The government says approximately 3,000 bridges are currently unable to support the heaviest vehicles, restricting access for agricultural and freight transport in regions, and slowing down journeys.
As part of the package, a £590 million has been allocated to 'take forward the long-awaited Lower Thames Crossing'.
The full announcement from the government can be read via this link.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves remains convinced the contentious crossing will aid "smoother, less congested passage of vital goods from Europe to our regions" and she reiterated the government said it was looking to source private finance to build it as a "national priority".
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander supports that view and said: "This project is essential for improving the resilience of a key freight route and is critical to our long-term trade with Europe."
However, they will have been less than impressed by their colleague's performance on the LBC broadcast, which appears to show a gulf of knowledge between the Treasury and the highways team as Ms Reynolds floundered when asked even the most basic questions about the project – and she appeared to have no grasp of the projected overall cost.
A fierce critic of the Lower Thames Crossing project has been Chris Todd, director of the campaigning Transport Action Network, previously who said the decision was "absolute madness".
He added: "The only way that the government can afford this white elephant would be to take money from all the other nations and regions in the UK.
"The Lower Thames Crossing is such an embarrassment that its latest funding announcement had to be combined with announcements about repairing bridges, tunnels and flyovers.
"Does the Government think the British public are stupid? Drip-feeding funding for the Lower Thames Crossing won't make it any cheaper or hide the countless millions being wasted not building it. The Treasury is throwing good money after bad; money that could make a real difference to people's lives is being squandered on this project.
"This new 'smart' motorway is likely to cost the public purse over £6bn when all the associated road schemes are included. That's in addition to the much higher toll charges on working people to pay back the private finance that will also be needed.
"It's madness when we've shown there are better, cheaper and more inclusive solutions available for people and freight.
"With 3,000 substandard bridges nationally we can't afford to maintain the roads we've got, the last thing we should do is raid public funds to build a new Lower Thames 'smart' motorway Crossing."
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