CONCERNS about the proposed Lower Thames Crossing have already landed on the desk of new transport minister Mark Harper.

They were raised by East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe who has also called for a debate in parliament about the controversial crossing and route through Thurrock.

It would follow up on an adjournment debate called earlier in the year by Gravesham MP Adam when Mr Metcalfe and Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price also spoke.

Mr Harper has been given the transport portfolio by new Prime Minster Rishi Sunak and the Thurrock-based Thames Crossing action Group (TCAG) have welcomed Mr Metcalfe's prompt action in making the new minister aware of local opposition to most parts of the multi-billion crossing proposal.

Mr Metcalfe's action raises the profile of the crossing with the transport department at the same time as National Highways are planning to submit their application for a development consent order, effectively the planning permission needed to start work. 

At a recent meeting of Thurrock Council's Thames Cross Task Force meeting, National Highways senior officer Tim Wright, who is Head of Consents (Lower Thames Crossing), was left in no doubt of the strength of local feeling against the crossing but he told members the agency was still planning to submit its application in early November.

At the meeting members of the task force called on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to scrap the crossing plan – which is now reckoned to be going to cost around £10 billion.

The crossing is likely to plough straight through green belt near Orsett, part of Mr Metcalfe's constituency.

The application by National Highways already has a troubled history. The agency first submitted its application in October 2020, but quickly withdrew it once it became clear it was incomplete, under-researched and was about to be rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.

Initially the then executive director of the crossing project, Matt Palmer, said he expected the application to be resubmitted within 90-120 days of the original application being withdrawn. That was more than a year ago and the crossing team are still receiving substantive objections and well-researched, cogent arguments against many aspects of the scheme.

However, it appears they are ready to submit their application, hence the intervention of Mr Metcalfe is timely.

Action group chair Laura Blake, said: "We are grateful that Stephen has acted so quickly on this, meeting with the new Transport Secretary within around 24 hours of him being appointed, because he wanted the crossing to be one of the first things on Mr Harper's desk.  

"We feel it is important that National Highways at very least hold off attempting to resubmit the development consent application until after such meetings and debate have taken place. 

"We thank Stephen for his continued support, and hope that he and other MPs will get the chance to discuss the LTC further with Mr Harper and at the debate."