PRESS RELEASE

Chancellor urged to scrap Lower Thames Crossing in favour of stronger growth-generating rail projects

In its Budget submission to UK Chancellor of the Exchequer [1], Transport Action Network (TAN) has invited the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP to consider scrapping the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), a new six-lane ‘smart’ motorway linking Essex and Kent.

TAN believes that publication of the Government’s flagship Railways Bill makes this suggestion highly relevant as major rail projects are currently being ‘paused’ or cancelled due to shortage of investment funds.

TAN argues that the LTC, which was inherited from the previous Conservative administration, is:

• Contrary to the Missions upon which the Labour Party won the 2024 General Election;
• Promoted by vested interests regardless of public benefit, operating outside proper scrutiny and control;
• Unaffordable, whether for £16 billion of taxpayers’ money if fully publicly financed or at £6 billion if a currently non-existent part-privatisation model is fabricated;
• Already leading to higher tolls for users of the existing Dartford crossings;
• Draining public money from better value rail schemes and road repairs across the UK; and
• Damaging to the environment both locally and for the Government’s UK-wide Net Zero commitments.

TAN Founder and Director, Chris Todd, said:

“With Rachel Reeves preparing the public for unpalatable tax increases and severe spending reductions in her Budget, it’s essential that every penny of taxpayers’ cash is invested wisely.

“The Lower Thames Crossing is a white elephant that fails every economic, value for money or environmental test. It has become a virility symbol for National Highways and the wider road lobby and should be scrapped.

“As they make their choices in next May’s elections, voters will be wondering why the Labour Government is throwing good money after bad for more motorway infrastructure in the South East. They will see critical rail schemes cancelled across the country to pay for it, while their local roads continue to crumble. It’s not hard to guess what they will think.”

TAN Roads & Climate Campaigner, Rebecca Lush, said:

“TAN has done the hard work National Highways and the Department for Transport refused to do in identifying rail and public transport based solutions to the congestion at Dartford. These would bring far greater opportunities to far more residents and businesses in Essex and Kent than the LTC, for a fraction of the cost.

“With the Labour Government haemorrhaging support, scrapping the LTC and investing in rail across the UK would be send a powerful signal of reconnection with the public.”

– ENDS –

Notes for editors

1. TAN’s letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer may be viewed here.
2. More information on the LTC and TAN’s reports on alternatives may be found here.
3. TAN’s 2024 submission to the Secretary of State for Transport on cancelling the entire Conservatives’ new roads programme may be viewed here.
4. TAN was set up in 2019 by director Chris Todd to help communities press for better (and more sustainable) transport. It supports more investment in bus and rail services and active travel. To enable this and better roads maintenance (fewer potholes) it continues to oppose the previous Government’s damaging roads programme. It also supports better integration between transport and planning.