Highways England has disputed a local council leader’s claim that it has ‘betrayed’ local residents over a promised discount for its residents using the Lower Thames Crossing.
Havering Council said the government-owned company had previously promised it that its residents would qualify for a reduction on the toll charge for the new crossing in the same way as residents in Thurrock and Gravesham but ‘went back on their word last year, which has since resulted in the council officially pulling its support for the project’.
Highways England responded that it is not responsible for setting charges and has never proposed to apply a discount for Havering residents.
Council leader Damian White said: ‘We won’t sit idly by and look on as Highways England continue to betray our local residents. In our view there is no difference between us and the other councils in this area as each of them will host the crossing and be affected by it in similar ways.
‘The crossing will have a significant impact on Havering and the people who live there. It will result in noise and disturbance, make our roads even busier, and undermine our efforts to improve air quality in the borough.’
Without treating ALL host boroughs equally, and without investing in upgrading the Gallows Corner junction and other associated pieces of highway infrastructure, I do not see how we could support this scheme locally. Come on @HighwaysEngland - treat @LBofHavering fairly! https://t.co/2HpuUT8Tn3
— Damian White (@CllrDamianwhite) July 8, 2021
However, Matt Palmer, executive director of the Lower Thames Crossing, said: ‘How road users will be charged to use the proposed Lower Thames Crossing is a matter for the Department for Transport. Highways England does not set road user charges or decide who receives discounts, and as such has never proposed to apply a discount for Havering residents.’
Cllr White also said that Highways England’s latest public consultation on the project came after the council challenged Highways England over a botched previous process ‘which saw residents silenced when it was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic’.
Mr Palmer responded: ‘Our plans have been shaped by the most comprehensive programme of consultation ever undertaken for a UK road project, including regular and extensive engagement with Havering and all local authorities near the proposed route. In 2020, rather than cutting short our supplementary consultation we extended it, as well as provided a range of new ways for members of the community to learn about our plans and give their feedback.’
Cllr White campaigning in the recent Batley and Spen by-election
Cllr White said he would be writing to the transport secretary about the issue of a local discount and would ‘continue to lobby for investment in Gallows Corner as the new crossing will create even more pressure at a junction which is already unfit for purpose with the current demand’.