Today, Highways England have launched a supplementary consultation on the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) to provide an opportunity for people to comment on proposed design changes following their most recent consultation in 2018.
The most significant amendment to the proposals is the removal of one lane of traffic on the southbound carriageway between the M25 and A13 junctions of the new LTC link road. This not only reduces the amount of land required for the project, and by extension the impact of the development on the environment, but also means that changes to Ockendon Road and the bridge crossing the M25 are no longer necessary. We hope that this will reduce the disruption to residents in North Ockendon and commuters in the area during the construction of the project.
The consultation also advises on further proposals to maintain, improve or upgrade the public right of way network for walkers, cyclists and horse riders in the vicinity of the project. These proposals include the creation of new footpaths in the North Ockendon area, the upgrading of other footpaths into bridleways but also the expansion of the proposed green bridge over the LTC (joining North Ockendon with South Ockendon) to provide facilities for cyclists and horse riders.
In the Thames Chase Community Forest, there are proposals for a new equestrian bridge as well as new footpath to the east of the site and the upgrading of a maintenance track to the south of the site into a bridleway.
We acknowledge that the Thames Chase Community Forest will be severely affected by the project and we have been liaising closely with the project team regarding this. Julia has previously brought the then Secretary of State for the Environment, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, to see the site for himself and to push for a new 'biodiversity net gains' approach which would compel developers to offset any impact on the environment with investment in green spaces and wildlife. In a recent meeting earlier this month, in which we were notified that this consultation would be forthcoming, we again pressed for close communication between the project team and Thames Chase and are pleased that this is ongoing with one of the Mobile Information Centre events during the consultation taking place at community forest.
Constituents living in proximity to the project, particularly those in the North Ockendon area, are encouraged to review the updated consultation documents which included a revised development boundary to reflect additional land to be used to divert utilities and create new habitat areas.
The consultation is open until 11.59pm on 25 March 2020 and there will be a number of consultation events taking place within the constituency. Full event details are listed below:
Consultation Event
Saturday 22 February 2020, Midday-6pm – New Windmill Hall, St. Mary’s Lane, Upminster, RM14 2QH
Mobile Information Centre
Friday 28 February 2020, Midday-5pm – Thames Chase Forest Centre, Broadfields Farm Cottage, Pike Lane, Upminster, RM14 3NS
Mobile Information Centre
Thursday 19 March 2020, 10am-7pm – Upminster Library, 26 Corbets Tey Road, Upminster RM14 2BB
For a guide to the consultation, please visit:
For all other consultation materials and to respond to the consultation, please visit:
https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/ltc/consultation-2020/