Lower Thames Crossing: rallying call to take part in next phase of consultation
The four-week consultation starts on Tuesday, July 14
The next phase of consultation on the proposed Lower Thames Crossing begins this month.
Highways England is launching the four-week consultation on proposed design refinements to the planned road on Tuesday, July 14. It comes after 2018’s statutory consultation in 2018 and the supplementary consultation, which was completed this year.
From July 14, we will all be able to comment on the proposed refinements, which include:
- Minor refinements to elements of the highways design
- Updated paths for walkers, cyclists and horse riders
- Proposals for redirecting and upgrading utilities
- More detailed landscaping proposals
- Further developed ecological mitigation measures
The consultation is a digital-first event, meaning that from July 14 to Wednesday, August 12, all materials, including an online feedback form, will be accessible here
You can also order printed copies of the consultation materials by emailing info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk
The digital-first approach reflects social-distancing restrictions imposed by the government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Highways England says it is, though, setting up additional measures to ensure the public can engage in the consultation. These include:
- Leaflets distributed to 135,000 properties within two kilometres of the route, giving residents notice of the consultation
- From now, people can register their interest in the consultation and order hard copies of the consultation packs to arrive from the July 14 launch
- Extensive media and social-media campaigns to raise awareness of the consultation
Highways England says that during the consultation period, July 14-August 12, it will provide:
- Freephone consultation and call-back service for people to find out more and give their feedback on the proposals
- Online public information exhibition, including videos, displays and documents library
- Webinars to explain the key changes open to all members of the public
- Updated and newly-interactive website
- Social-media updates
Across the river, Alex Hills, CPRE Kent’s Gravesham district chairman, said: “This could be the last consultation before a planning application is put in, so it is important that as many people as possible take part in this very short consultation.
“CPRE Kent is calling on people and organisations to order hard copies of the consultation for those who are not comfortable doing everything online.”