Three of the five options proposed by Highways England for the
Lower Thames Crossing - a solution to ease congestion over the Dartford Crossing - would cause extensive irreversible damage to up to 13 areas of irreplaceable ancient woodland in Kent and Essex, according to the Woodland Trust.
The proposed solutions will see the construction of a tunnel underneath the Thames Estuary, avoiding direct impacts upon the internationally important habitats of the North Kent Marshes and Thames Estuary, with the new crossing linked to the existing road network with the construction of new roads and widening of existing ones.
The trust asserts that one such new road would set a precedent for the direct loss of an area of woodland planted as partial compensation for the loss of eight areas of ancient woodland to the A2/M2 widening scheme. The planting was even recognised with
an award for the quality of the mitigation.
Oliver Newham, Woodland Trust lead campaigner, said: “Yet again irreplaceable ancient woodland is considered dispensable in a major construction project. Surveys show these woods are incredibly valuable; home to badgers, rare orchids and all three species of woodpecker which breed in the UK.”
“It also highlights a further flaw in the planning process, with one proposal set to result in the loss of the very woodland planted to compensate for destruction of a previous ancient woodland – you couldn’t make it up.”
There are three routes available North of the Thames, in Essex, that would enable access to the new crossing, but the trust maintains that only one is certain not to cause disturbance to, or the direct loss of, ancient woodland.
• Route Two will pass close to ancient Chadwell Wood next to the A1089, although the detail is currently unclear it will cause disturbance and may cause direct loss.
• Route Three has no ancient woodland along the route.
• Route Four would result in direct loss within eight ancient woods, including Thick Shaw, part of Thorndon Country Park’s SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) woodland complex.
South of the river, in Kent, there are two proposed routes of access to the crossing. Both of which, the trust claims, will impact ancient woodland:
• The Eastern Southern link will harm three ancient woods, including the SSSI-designated Great Crabbles Wood, and result in direct loss to an area of land planted as part of compensation for the loss of ancient woodland for the A2/M2 widening.
• The Western Southern route will result in direct loss to two woods, one ancient wood called Claylane Wood and another, Shorne Wood, that is SSSI-designated and partially ancient.
Over 2,100 people have sent an objection to Highways England via the Woodland Trust, opposing the routes which could cause damage to ancient woodland.
The Trust is encouraging anyone who objects to the loss of ancient woodland due to the proposed Lower Thames Crossing to respond to the public consultation before 24 March at
woodlandtrust.org.uk/campaigning .