Out and about: August 2019

17 September 2019

We are pleased to share a roundup of our meetings, events and activities over the last month.

The Lower Thames Crossing team has been out and about throughout August meeting with local community members, businesses, elected representatives and local authorities.

During the course of the month, our team attended several meetings across London, Essex, Kent and Thurrock; we met with the British Ports Association, including BPA CEO Richard Ballantyne, to discuss the post-consultation update and we also met with London Thamesport on Isle of Grain, which is part of Hutchison Ports. Our team also met with the Road Haulage Association, where we discussed the statutory consultation update and air quality myths around new heavy goods vehicles.

We had an excellent meeting with the University of Kent, about how they can use the Lower Thames Crossing as a real-life case study for students in their brand-new Human Geography degree.

We enjoyed meeting with community groups and business owners across the south-east during the month of August, including Ingrebourne Valley Limited, where discussions continued regarding land issues and spoil disposal strategy. We also met with Locate in Kent, where our Economic Appraisal team shared evidence gathered and tested assumptions, particularly around wider economic benefits, and how we can deliver and support these in the Kent area.

Our Community Summer campaign visited neighbourhoods in Grays, Upminster, Gravesend and Medway. Our Community Engagement team met with over 1,650 visitors during these events, sharing updates on the project and discussing concerns, such as local impacts.

Our engagement with local authorities and councils continued with steering and update meetings with Southend on Sea Council, Thurrock Council, Dartford Council, Essex County Council, Tunbridge Wells Council and Kent County Council.

At the end of August, we met with Jackie Doyle-Price, MP for Thurrock, providing an update on the statutory consultation.

Our technical engagement this month included productive meetings with National Grid, Southern Water, Anglian Water, Cadent Gas, Transport for the South East, Environment Agency, Natural England and HS1.

If your community or local group would like to meet with us, please get in touch by emailing: community@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk