Crossing campaigners at Westminster today to meet with Transport Minister

The meeting is seen by campaigners as a key step forwards in their campaign to stop a second Thames Crossing coming through Thurrock.

Resident campaigners George Abbott and Matt Jackson are heading up the five-strong group to present their arguments against the need for a second Thames Crossing, along with Council Leader John Kent, Councillor Brian Little and MP Stephen Metcalfe.

The private meeting with Under-secretary of State Andrew Jones was arranged by MP Stephen Metcalfe after “a request was made to the Secretary to listen to residents’ views” the MP said.

Campaign leader George Abbott, of Woolings Close, Orsett, who is leading the presentation, said he was “excited” to get the chance to present to the minister face- to-face.

He said: “It’s a big thing for us and we are positive about it.

“What we are trying to do is take the power back here, otherwise we are only writing letters or having MPs, councillors, everyone else speaking for us as residents.

“I want to sit down and present our findings face to face.

“We want transparency, to argue the facts, for him to see how seriously the group is taking the fight and we want him to go back and say Option C isn’t right. There are other options, Option D for example.”

Orsett councillor Brian Little, who is Chair of the Transport scrutiny committee, said he was hopeful the meeting would convince the secretary of residents’ “credibility”.

He said: “I think it’s a major step forwards for the group and I would like the minister to see what residents are saying here has some credibility.

“People did not complain the last time a crossing was built through Thurrock, they understood the need for it.

“I hope there’s a realisation that 30,000 people can’t be wrong, there must be something there, some truth. This is not nimbyism, it’s practicality.”

MP Stephen Metcalfe said he also hoped the Minister would “consider the alternatives if we come up with some evidence.”