LOCAL campaigners have welcomed news that the Department of Transport's future roads programme, which includes the proposed Lower Thames Crossing, is to be challenged in the High Court.

Members of the Thurrock-based Thames Crossing Action Group are supporters of the Transport Action Network, an independent organisation set up in 2019 and funded by donations to offer advice and backing to local campaigns.

It particularly opposes environmentally damaging road schemes and large unsustainable developments and has now won the right to challenge the government's overall transport strategy in the High Court.

The £27 billion Road Investment Strategy 2 was announced alongside the Budget in March and is being challenged on the basis that ministers published it without considering the net zero target, which became law in June 2019. The Transport Action Group sought leave to make a formal legal challenge and have been granted a full hearing in November.

The legal challenge will now come at a crucial time, when the Chancellor is due to set out new spending priorities and transport ministers have to make decisions on flagship road schemes will go ahead.

Laura Blake of the Thames Crossing Action Group said: "This is fantastic news! Thank you the whole team at Transport Action Network, we stand alongside you in this legal challenge 100%"!