A THURROCK MP is among those being urged by the Essex Federation of Small Businesses to persuade the government to speak up about the future of the Dartford crossing.

Members of Parliament in Essex including Thurrock’s Andrew Mackinlay are being urged to persuade Transport Minister Paul Clark to publish details of a Government study commissioned to examine the future of the Dartford River Crossing as part of a continuing campaign by Essex FSB.

Essex FSB spokesman on Transport, David Wenham, said: “Essex FSB has been campaigning against the Government’s increase in tolls at the Dartford River Crossing and that campaign has received strong support from Members of Parliament who have been questioning the Minister on the reasons for this increase.

“Thanks to Saffron Walden MP Sir Alan Haselhurst we recently discovered that the Department for Transport has commissioned a study to look at options for addressing traffic issues in the future, including the possibility of a new crossing. It is due to report about the turn of the year.

“This was the first time we have heard about this study even though it is due to report within the next three or four weeks so we have now written to all Members of Parliament in Essex, Havering and Redbridge asking them to contact Mr Clark to find out details of the study and how it is gathering its evidence.”

More information on the Essex Region of the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) can be found at www.fsb.org.uk/essex.