THE Port of Tilbury has stood by its backing for route four for the Lower Thames Crossing despite pressure by campaigners.

The port’s chief operating officer Perry Glading recently met with members of the No to Thames Crossing group, who urged him to support an extra tunnel at Dartford instead.

Mr Glading said the port was “committed” to route four, which he felt was most likely to solve the problem of a national ‘bottleneck’ at the Dartford Crossing and was the best solution to south Essex’s transport needs.

He said: “Over the next ten years, the volume of traffic is going to be 20 to 30 per cent greater – the bottleneck does not allow that to happen.”

“Over the next 15 to 20 years, we are going to get double the amount of cargo. You can’t continue with the Dartford Crossing – it’s a major bottleneck.

“If the port is going to grow - and I have explained this to residents - what we would like to do is get more of the traffic coming off going through Tilbury and coming to the port instead."

Speaking of residents’ support for a crossing further east, he said: “Canvey also does not give us an option – it’s too far away, and the logistical cost is too great.”