Lower Thames Crossing Project update Summer 2019 The level of detail in the feedback we received through our Foreword consultation and our comprehensive programme of ground investigations means we want to take additional time to improve our proposals and to develop our DCO application.
Welcome to the Lower Thames We now intend to submit our DCO application in summer Crossing consultation update 2020. This does not impact on our overall programme and we are on target to open the Lower Thames Crossing At the end of 2018 we held the most comprehensive consultation in 2027 as we have further developed our approach Highways England has ever undertaken and we received a to construction to schedule work concurrently and record breaking response with around 15,000 people attending reduce the overall time required for construction. Director CIP, Chris Taylor. our 60 events and almost 29,000 people sharing their views on our proposals. I would like to thank everyone who took part. Ahead of submitting our DCO application in summer 2020 It is vital we get all we will continue to review the feedback we received during aspects of the design, Since the consultation we have been reviewing all of the last year’s consultation and consider it as we develop the feedback and our commitment to you is to consider each design of the route. We will share design updates with construction and and every response we received and to use that feedback stakeholders and communities and we may need to consult operation right to as we continue to develop our proposals ahead of submitting further on proposed changes. We will of course keep minimise the impacts our Development Consent Order (DCO) application. communities, customers and stakeholders updated as our and maximise plans progress. We may also choose to consult further We received a record We will publish a full consultation report as part of our DCO on proposed changes to the project as it develops. the benefits breaking response application, however to keep you updated on progress we are now issuing an interim update on the key themes Please visit our website www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk with around 15,000 we heard during the consultation. This update sets out to sign up to our email updates or follow us on Twitter people attending our levels of support for and opposition to our proposals @lowerthames to keep up to date. 60 events and almost and some of the suggestions made as to how we can 29,000 people sharing improve the design of the Lower Thames Crossing. Thank you again for your continued interest in the Lower Thames Crossing. their views There is significant support for our proposals with more than 80% of respondents supporting the need for a new crossing and 70% supporting the location, however we recognise that there are a number of areas of concern. Our work now is focused on continuing to improve our proposals. It is vital we get all aspects of the design, construction and operation right to minimise the impacts and maximise the benefits. Chris Taylor Director, Complex Infrastructure Programme Highways England
2 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 3 The consultation
A ten-week consultation ran from 10 October to 20 December 2018 providing stakeholders and the public with an opportunity to have their say on our proposals for the Lower Thames Crossing.
Working with our stakeholders We attended more than 100 meetings with stakeholders including local authorities, statutory environmental bodies, business representatives and local elected representatives including MPs and ward councillors.
Promoting the consultation We issued three news releases that were widely covered across local, regional and national news outlets. We received more than 300 pieces of coverage on radio and television, online and in newspapers.
Key Event locations
60 14,868 2,500,000 132 300,000 212,000 2,000,000 events event attendees emails sent Tweets sent by people reached visitors to views of @lowerthames via Twitter consultation consultation web website pages
4 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 5 Your responses
28,493 responses received.
This is a record for a consultation of its type. The consultation responses were received and analysed by Traverse, an independent company specialising in public consultations.
To view Traverse’s Executive Summary of the issues raised during the consultation please visit www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk. The full statutory consultation report providing detailed information about the consultation process, the issues raised and our responses to them will be published as part of our Development Consent Order application.
The following pages provide a summary of the responses received during the consultation.
How we received the responses nline
ampaign responses
eed ac forms nline ree te t letters and emails ampaign responses
eed ac forms
ree te t letters and emails Please note: Percentages on this and following charts may not add up to 100%, as they are rounded to the nearest percent. Where a figure is less than 0.5% (For example question 1a) we have displayed that figure as <1 as this is preferable to 0%.
6 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 7 The need for a new crossing The location of the crossing 1a. Do you agree or disagree that the Lower Thames Crossing is needed? 2a. Do you support or oppose our trongly support selection of trongly support the preferred upport upport route for the eutral eutral Lower Thames Crossing? ppose ppose trongly agree trongly oppose trongly agree trongly oppose gree o not now gree o not now eutral eutral isagree isagree
trongly trongly disagree disagree 2b. Do you support o not now or oppose the o not now trongly support changes we trongly support upport have made to the upport route since our eutral eutral preferred route announcement ppose ppose trongly oppose in 2017? trongly oppose o not now o not now
Highlighted comments Highlighted comments
Support Opposed Suggestions Support Opposed Suggestions Want to alleviate the It won’t improve the Invest more in public It would alleviate traffic It is too close to the Other locations for a existing levels of current traffic situation transport, particularly rail, congestion and improve Dartford Crossing to crossing both east and congestion on the and might make it worse and find ways to reduce the resilience of the road offer a real alternative west of the preferred Dartford Crossing on the by attracting more cars. the volume of traffic on network whilst reducing or it would attract route were suggested, M25 and the strategic It would disrupt local the road. Find alternative journey times and more traffic onto the including options and local road network, communities and worsen ways to move freight to providing a more direct already overcrowded previously considered highlighting time spent in air quality. reduce the number of route between areas. local road network. by the Department traffic and the financial heavy goods vehicles for Transport (DfT). cost and health impacts (HGVs) on the road. associated with heavy congestion.
8 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 9 Sections of the route South of the river in Kent The crossing 3a. Do you support or oppose the proposed route south of the river? 3c. Please give us your comments on the tunnel, the north and the south tunnel entrances and any other feedback you have on this part of the preferred route.
trongly support trongly support
upport upport eutral eutral ppose ppose
trongly trongly opposeoppose o not now o not now
Highlighted comments Highlighted comments
Support Opposed Suggestions Support Opposed Suggestions Supporters of this section Concerned about Go back to the Want the tunnel built It would have a negative The tunnel must be make similar arguments traffic and the impact previously considered as soon as possible. impact on air quality, future-proofed to cope to those who support on the existing road Eastern Southern Link, Support the use of a noise, wildlife and the with increasing traffic the location of the network and the already upgrade the existing tunnel rather than a green belt. There may not volumes. It should have preferred route. Bridges congested A2. Impact local road network or bridge, the number of be enough lanes to meet more lanes, be longer, and embankments on residential areas make changes to the lanes and the location future traffic demand and there should be more are a necessary part and the visual impact design such as making of the tunnel entrances. concerned that HGVs tunnels or it should be a of the design and the of bridges. Impact the tunnel longer. using the tunnel could bridge instead. inclusion of green on designated sites hold up traffic like at bridges is a good thing. such as Kent Downs the existing crossing. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
10 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 11 Connections North of the river in Thurrock and Essex Connections south of the river in Kent
3d. Do you support or oppose the proposed route north of the river? 4a. Do you support or oppose the proposed junction between the Lower Thames Crossing and the M2/A2?
trongly support trongly support trongly trongly support support
upport upport upport upport eutral eutral eutral eutral ppose ppose ppose ppose trongly oppose trongly oppose trongly oppose trongly oppose o not now o not now o not now o not now
Highlighted comments Highlighted comments
Support Opposed Suggestions Support Opposed Suggestions Supporters make Would negatively Route should be It will take traffic away Potential impacts of the Add the ‘C variant’ link similar arguments to impact communities changed to one from some sections new road on both major to the M20 which was those who support the in Thurrock and could suggested during the of the A2 and help to and local roads in Kent explored in our previous location of the preferred make already high 2016 route consultation. reduce traffic at the have not been properly studies. Improve the route. The design levels of pollution worse. It should link to the Dartford Crossing. considered. The existing strategic road of bridges, viaducts Might make the A13, A12 or the M11 and removal of the junction network in Kent, including and embankments Orsett and Ockendon the existing local with the A226 could the M2, A2, M20 and is sympathetic to more congested. road network should restrict local access. A20 and connections local surroundings. The viaduct over the be improved. There are also concerns between them. Mardyke is too high and about the impact on should be changed to local communities, reduce its impact. wildlife and air quality.
12 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 13 Connections north of the river in Thurrock and Essex
4c. Do you support or oppose the Highlighted comments trongly support proposed Tilbury trongly support junction? upport Support Opposed Suggestions upport Potential impacts on Would negatively impact The link road from eutral eutral local communities have local communities, Tilbury junction should ppose ppose been minimised. The make congestion and air be included to provide trongly oppose trongly oppose connections would quality worse. Concern access to Tilbury port o not now smooth traffic flows, that the junction with area and stimulate o not now reduce pollution and the A13/A1089 would the local economy. support the economy. add more traffic to the There should be direct The junction with the A13 and local roads access between the A13/A1089 would and make certain Lower Thames Crossing provide access to one journeys take longer. and the A127. 4d. Do you support of the key arterial roads or oppose the through South Essex. Concerned about impact trongly support proposed junction trongly support of elevated sections of
between the upport the junction with the M25 upport Lower Thames and the impact on local eutral eutral Crossing and woodlands. The changes ppose the A13/A1089? ppose to junction 29 of the M25 trongly oppose trongly oppose could attract more traffic o not now to the already busy A127. o not now
4e. Do you support or oppose the trongly support proposed junction trongly support between the upport upport Lower Thames eutral eutral Crossing and the M25? ppose ppose trongly oppose trongly oppose o not now o not now
14 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 15 Walkers, cyclists and horse-riders Environmental impacts
5. Do you support or oppose our proposals 6a. Do you agree or disagree with the proposed measures in relation to public rights of way? to reduce the impacts of the project?
trongly support trongly support trongly trongly agree agree upport upport gree gree eutral eutral eutral eutral ppose isagree ppose isagree trongly oppose trongly disagree trongly oppose trongly disagree o not now o not now o not now o not now
Highlighted comments Highlighted comments
Support Opposed Suggestions Support Opposed Suggestions Public rights of way Object to any loss of Non-motorised users Air quality would improve Environmental Tree planting, using should be maintained public rights of way should be able to use with better traffic flow. considerations have not renewable energy and or reinstated. and commitments the tunnel in some way Biodiversity and the been given sufficient creating community to these and non- such as on a parallel visual landscape should weight including air and facilities. Various ways motorised users are not route or tunnel or via be protected and noise noise quality, biodiversity, to reduce the impact on strong enough. Easing a shuttle service. pollution minimised. climate, community wildlife species. congestion must be and the landscape. A prioritised over allowing campaign organised non-motorised users by stakeholders raised to use the crossing. concern over potential loss of ancient woodland.
16 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 17 Development boundary Rest and service area and maintenance depot
7a. Do you support or oppose the proposed area of land 8a. Do you support we require to build the Lower Thames Crossing? or oppose trongly support our proposals trongly support for a rest and upport upport service area in eutral eutral this location? ppose ppose trongly oppose trongly oppose trongly support o not now trongly support o not now upport upport eutral eutral ppose ppose 8b. Do you support trongly oppose or oppose our trongly oppose trongly support proposals for trongly support o not now upport o not now the maintenance upport depot in this eutral eutral location? ppose ppose trongly oppose trongly oppose o not now o not now
Highlighted comments Highlighted comments
Support Opposed Suggestions Support Opposed Suggestions The land is needed Concerned about how Suggestions related to Existing services are It is not needed and More HGV parking and impact on the much land is needed, specific properties and in short supply and should not be at the should be provided local community and how many homes could negotiations between inadequate. Parking proposed location. along with green space environment has be demolished and how Highways England for HGVs on the route It is too close to and an outdoor area. been minimised. this would affect local and landowners. is needed. The service residential areas. communities. Risk that area would create local the project would lead jobs and regenerate to further urbanisation the local area. of the local area.
18 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 19 Traffic
9a. Do you agree or disagree with the view that the Lower Thames Crossing would improve traffic conditions on the surrounding road network?
trongly agree trongly agree gree gree eutral eutral
isagree isagree trongly trongly disagreedisagree o not now o not now
Charges for using the crossing 10. Please give us your views on our proposed approach to charging users of the crossing.
Highlighted comments Highlighted comments
Support Opposed Suggestions Support Opposed Suggestions Traffic forecasts show Forecasts are unreliable The route should be The traffic flow would The crossing should be The charge should be congestion would or fail to consider things future-proofed by be better regulated if free to use. An emissions- affordable and could reduce, particularly at like planned housing increasing the number a variable charging based charging model be the same or lower the Dartford Crossing. schemes and current of lanes and improving model was used. Free- would stop people from than the charge at the traffic patterns. The existing roads like the flow e-charging could using the crossing or Dartford Crossing. new crossing would A229 at Blue Bell Hill. keep traffic moving might punish those who Measures should be put not improve traffic. Various suggestions and reduce delays. can’t afford a new car. in place to make sure Improvement would were put forward for how Charging is necessary Toll booths could be overseas drivers pay the be temporary as extra HGVs could be better to pay for the better than a free-flow charge. Local discounts capacity would be managed. project and manage e-charging system for should be considered. quickly filled or it would traffic demand.. preventing non-payment. make traffic worse by attracting more cars onto the roads.
20 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 21 Building the crossing
11a. Do you support or oppose our initial plans for how to build the Lower Thames Crossing?
trongly support trongly agree upport gree eutral eutral
ppose isagree Utilities and pylons trongly trongly opposedisagree
o o not not now now 12. Please let us know any views you have on the proposed changes to utilities infrastructure.
Highlighted comments
Support Opposed Suggestions The changes are Concerned about Electricity lines should needed for the project disruption to supply, be placed underground Highlighted comments but should be done in pylons being located to minimise the the least disruptive way. close to homes and the visual impact. Support Opposed Suggestions cost of the proposals. Some disruption is Building the crossing Local companies and inevitable but the will negatively impact workers should be proposed mitigation local communities employed to build the measures are welcomed. and the environment. crossing, benefitting Other comments The building works Concerned about how the local community. should be done long the crossing will 13. We would like to know what is important to you. Please let on time or faster to take to build and if the us know if you have any other comments about the Lower minimise disruption. project will be built. Thames Crossing.
The responses to this question have been summarised in the relevant sections of this update. For example, comments about the general need for the Lower Thames Crossing have been included with the responses to question 1a The need for a new crossing.
22 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 23 The consultation
14. Please let us know what you think about the quality of our consultation materials, our events, the way in which we have notified people about our plans, and anything else related to this consultation.
Highlighted comments
Support ery good ery good The materials and events were helpful and ood ood informative. The use of “before and after” pictures verage verage and the “fly-through” video was good. Grateful for the opportunity to comment on the proposals. Poor Poor ery poor ery poor Opposed ot applica le ot applica le Don’t believe feedback given will influence decision making and the decision has already been made. Information was biased or there was not enough and the consultation was Information Events (quality) poorly advertised. Some found the events to be inaccessible due to their time and location.
ery good ery good
ood ood verage verage Poor Poor ery poor ery poor
ot applica le ot applica le
Events (location) ery good Promotion
ood
verage
ery good Poor
ood ery poor
verage ot applica le
Poor
ery poor Information Events (quality) Events24 (location) Promotion Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 25 ot applica le
Information Events (quality) Events (location) Promotion Next steps
We’re continuing to work through people’s comments in detail and as Given the quality and volume of responses we received to our we consider the responses we received we may make changes to consultation and the important information we continue to receive the design to improve the scheme. If we make significant changes to through our engagement with stakeholders we intend to take the design, we may carry out further consultation on those changes. additional time to consider the feedback and we now expect to We will keep you informed should we decide to do so. submit our application for a Development Consent Order in summer 2020. This does not change our target of opening the road in 2027. It is vital we get all aspects of the design right to ensure we maximise the benefits of the Lower Thames Crossing while also minimising the impacts on communities and the environment. We continue to work with stakeholders to shape the design and understand the impact on local communities.
2019 Summer 2020 2020 Late 2020/ 2021 2021 2027 early 2021
Preparing our Submission of Pre-examination of Examination Recommendation Decision Opening planning application DCO application DCO application
Considering feedback We will make our submission You can register The Planning The Planning The Secretary of The Lower Thames from the consultation, to the Planning Inspectorate, with the Planning Inspectorate has six Inspectorate State then has three Crossing opens developing the design and which will include feedback Inspectorate as an months to examine will make a months to issue to traffic. preparing our submission to from the consultation. This is interested party our application. This recommendation a decision. This the Planning Inspectorate. called the DCO application. and make formal is called the DCO to the Secretary of will be followed representations examination period. State for Transport by a public The Planning Inspectorate about the project. Registered parties within three months announcement. has 28 days to decide if the You will then be kept can send written of the end of the If approved, application meets the required informed of progress comments to the examination period. construction could standards to proceed, including and opportunities Planning Inspectorate begin soon after. whether our consultation has to be involved. and can ask to speak been adequate. at a public hearing.
26 Project update - Summer 2019 Project update - Summer 2019 27 If you need help accessing this or any other Highways England information, please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.
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