Roads Minister Andrew Jones has promised "no decision has been made" following a face-to-face meeting with Thames Crossing campaigners yesterday.

The Minister also promised to "investigate" why Option D had been dropped in the private meeting with campaigners.

MP Stephen Metcalfe went to Westminster on Wednesday with resident representatives George Abbott and Matt Jackson to discuss the Lower Thames Crossing Roads with the Minister.

At the private meeting, the group discussed the 30,000 response Highways England consultation and sought assurances from the minister no decision was yet made.

The campaigners are due to meet with the Minister again once he has investigated the route. 

Councillor John Kent, Leader of Thurrock Council, and Orsett Councillor Brian Little, Chair of the Transport scrutiny committee also attended.

Resident campaigner George Abbott hailed the meeting as "positive" and said the minister was "committed to finding the right solution."

Writing on the Thames Crossing Proposals Facebook page, he said: "We had a positive meeting with the minister, who is committed to finding the right solution and he stressed that no decisions have been made.

"He also said he will look into previous governments data on Option D and is open to a further meeting once the data has been analysed from the consultation." 

MP Stephen Metcalfe said together the group "made the case" to the minister that the Lower Thames Crossing would involve huge levels of investment and the process should be handled carefully and properly.

He said: "The minister assured us that no decision has yet been made. He agreed that he would consider the points we made about problems with the existing crossing and Option C, and that he would also investigate how the possibility of a crossing further east from Option C came to be discounted.

"I was pleased to help organise this productive meeting with the minister, and will keep working hard to ensure that our local communities have a voice in Westminster."