THURROCK Council will not be backing a new Thames tunnel crossing in Thurrock, which anti-crossing campaigners have now warmed to.

The announcement comes after bitter clashes this week between MP Jackie Doyle-Price and the No to Thames Crossing Group this week.

In a further blow to campaigners, Thurrock Council said it would not be throwing its weight behind Option A, a tunnel under the existing crossing.

This comes after the No to Thames Crossing Group, made up of 9,000 members, have said they shifted from a previous ‘no’ position to support for Option A14, after ‘much research’.

Option A14, a tunnel next to the existing two tunnels, is now being touted by these campaigners as “the answer to everyone’s prayers."

Yet Ms Doyle-Price remains hell bent on option C, route 4, an option that will cross next to Tilbury Port and through Orsett.

In her letter to the campaign group, MP Jackie Doyle-Price called Option A14 “disastrous."

She said: “Many of my constituents have signed up to this group and would be horrified to know that they are associated with a campaign to put the new crossing next to the existing one.

“I appreciate that Orsett residents are concerned about a new crossing but they have no business thinking they can dump on the rest of Thurrock.

“In the interest of Thurrock the council ought to endorse route 4. It certainly shouldn’t be backing Option A.”

But the council is not keen on backing either option, stating it remains opposed to any crossing at all.

Council leader Rob Gledhill said the council remained opposed to any crossing and he was “very concerned” by the MP’s letter.

Mr Gledhill said: “I was very concerned to read our MP’s letter and have asked officers for a full briefing along with copies of the response sent to Highways England. All 49 councillors were resolute in our stance of ‘no more river crossings in Thurrock’.”

Representatives from the group said they would be taking the fight back to Westminster to campaign for a face-to-face meeting with Jackie Doyle-Price.

George Abbott, of Woolings Close, Orsett, said: “The comments from Jackie are surprising as they show incredibly little knowledge of what option A14 is.

“A14 is a tunnel that would go from Junction 2 in Kent joining the M25 between junction 29 and 30.

“Surely our MP can see the benefits of this tunnel? I'd be surprised if she wasn't acutely aware of all options of this incredibly important issue for the borough and her constituency.”

“The campaign in Thurrock share the view of our counterparts in Kent that not only would this have considerably less impact on residents of Thurrock but also provide a much better longer term solution to the road network that has minor impact on greenbelt and limits pollution.”