Thames Crossing plans not good enough - Reform MP

Reform UK MP James McMurdock has said he does not think plans for the new lower Thames Crossing "are good enough".

A new 14 mile (22.5km) motorway style road would see a tunnel constructed under the Thames between Tilbury and Gravesend, linking the M25 with A2 and M2.

The new MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock told the BBC: "I'm not a nimby but we cannot waste £10bn to be in the same place in five years time."

National Highways said his claim was "not accurate" and that the new system would "cut traffic on the Dartford Crossing by around 20%".

The new road would run through the countryside in Mr McMurdock's constituency.

Thurrock Council has been opposed to the crossing proposal, including both local Labour and Conservative party groups.

National Highways has said it would "almost double road capacity" across the Thames to the east of London by creating three new lanes in each direction.

James McMurdock, who joined the Reform UK party in the Spring, became a candidate just one-month before the general election. He won after a recount with a majority of 98 votes.

Mr McMurdock raised the lower Thames Crossing during his conference speech, describing it as a "ten billion pound mega project".

He told the BBC: "There are issues with traffic flows at the existing QE2 bridge and the two tunnels are already at 20% over capacity.

"Something needs to be done, but what we are talking about right now does a lot of damage to what's there and doesn’t solve the issues."

The new Thurrock MP Labour's Jen Craft has previously posted on X to claim the project would be a "disaster for Thurrock" on an environmental and a social level.

"Even on the best possible estimates will not alleviate the issues caused by congestion on the current Dartford Crossing," she wrote.

A spokesperson for National Highways said the Dartford Crossing was "over capacity" and "used by many more vehicles than it was designed for".

"This leads to congestion, delay and diversions that have a huge impact on the day to day life of neighbouring communities."

The organisation said if the new crossing went ahead, "even after 15 years, traffic levels are still predicted to be an average of 14% lower".

The project is set to cost £9bn, and £850m has already been spent during the 15 years of planning, development and discussion.

The government is set to decide on 4 October whether to proceed with the project. A decision in the summer was delayed due to the general election.

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