THE leader of Thurrock Council has supplied written evdience to an inquiry about new river crossings.

John Kent, in his letter to the House of Commons’ Transport Select Committee’s inquiry, the Labour chief sums up the council’s objections to a new Lower Thames Crossing.

In the last 18 months, the council has fought the government over its proposals to build a new crossing either next to the current QEII Bridge or between Coalhouse Fort in East Tilbury and Tilbury Fort.

The inquiry will look at how new river crossing projects in the UK are delivered.

The council will also request to give verbal evidence to the committee when it meets later this year.

Mr Kent said: “We said we’d be sending in this evidence and that we wanted to speak directly to the committee.”

In the letter, he states: "It is imperative directly-affected local authorities are informed about and can agree all scoping and screening assessments, and that detailed modelling information must be made available as part of the consultation process.

"In addition, where there are neighbouring proposals - such as those from the TfL and DfT for crossing the Thames – they should all be considered together and at least the possible cumulative and joint effects taken into consideration."

Jackie Doyle-Price, the MP for Thurrock, said: "I have submitted written evidence and I am pleased that Thurrock Council has done also. 

"Thurrock has more experience of hosting significant road infrastructure, and being both blessed and blighted by it. Our experience will inform how we get this better in future. I look forward to making sure that our representations are properly scrutinised by the committee."