THURROCK Council leader John Kent has called on the consultation over a new Thames crossing to be scrapped and started again.

Speaking at full council on Wednesday night, Councillor John Kent reiterated the council’s stance on wanting no new crossing in the borough.

Speaking after a Conservative minister said last week that Option A – a crossing by the current bridge – hadn’t been dismissed despite it being ignored in the current consultation, Mr Kent said: “Last week it became absolutely clear that the government and Highways England are thoroughly confused about what they want – except it seems they all want to dump on the people of Thurrock.

“When Highways England eventually launched their consultation – on 26 January, and just 12 hours after our first public meeting was held – it was perfectly clear. Option A had been dropped.

“There can be absolutely no doubt about that. Whatever Highways England may say now their lords and masters at Westminster have changed their minds, Option A was dead.”

Mr Kent added: “A couple of weeks ago we – Councillor Gledhill, Councillor Snell, Councillor Little and I - wrote to the Secretary of State asking that he extend the consultation period. He has not replied.

“I think we should get together again and write to demand the consultation is stopped, now, today, this minute. If ministers are saying Option A is on the table and the agency says it isn’t, how are ordinary people supposed to respond sensibly?”

Mr Kent went on to say a new investigation has to take place from Rainham to Southend to assess again the options, and if the same conclusion is met, then “so be it.”

He added: “It’s not that we are NIMBYs (not in my back yard), we simply believe that at the moment a fourth Thurrock crossing is not properly thought through; a fourth Thurrock crossing plan is based on old and inaccurate information; a fourth Thurrock crossing will not solve the problems; cheaper and simpler options should be investigated first; and if necessary, all options should be looked at again.”