Thames crossing could be a bridge too far


PLANS for a third Thames crossing to alleviate congestion at Dartford could bring traffic coursing into Maidstone via Bluebell Hill, it is feared. Chancellor George Osborne


has pledged to commission a feasibility study into three pro- posed options, having assured that the Government was com- mitted to building a third cross- ing to ease the growing traffic flows through the Dartford and Blackwall Tunnels. In the meantime, KCC has commissioned its own external consultants to study the three proposed routes, identified in April 2009 – alongside the ex- isting QEII bridge and tunnel at Dartford; between the Swanscombe Peninsula and Grays, Essex; east of Tilbury to


east of Gravesend. Essex and Thurrock Councils


are sharing the cost of the sur- veys, the results of which are due at the end of March. The third crossing option, which would impact most on Maidstone, would bring traffic from east London and the M25 well away from the current sources of congestion, but would impact more on the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) and ancient woodland. It would also bring traffic


down to the A2 and M2 and, ul- timately towards Maidstone for the M20 and routes to the Con- tinent. If this were the preferred option, there is also a proposal to widen the road at Bluebell


Alisdair’s sights set on top award A BEARSTED-born optometrist is in line for a top award in the National Optician Awards. Alisdair Buchanan, who attended Maidstone Grammar School and whose parents Sylvia and Lindsay live in Sandy Mount, runs a prac- tice in Snodland. Buchanan Optometrists is the only


Kent practice to have been listed for two awards – Premium Lens Prac- tice and Vision for Life – and the only practice in the county to have been shortlisted each year since 2008. The winners will be announced at an awards cer- emony in London on April 14.


Hill, which connects the two motorways. The proposal has put KCC chairman Paul Carter at logger- heads with his cabinet member for highways and environment, Cllr Bryan Sweetland (Con) who represents Gravesham East. Cllr Carter has openly backed the Gravesend option, despite mass opposition from residents and fellow members. The present crossing is con- sistently overloaded,with more than 15 major incidents and five bridge closures each year, cost- ing the UK economy some £40m. Cllr Carter said KCC would continue to see how a third Thames crossing could be fi- nanced. “Without it, the prob- lems at Dartford will only get


Precept frozen BEARSTED parish council is to keep its parish precept at the present rate. The council currently re- ceives £95,000 from the an- nual “levy” on local homes, which forms part of the coun- cil tax bill – which is £26.01 per year per Band D property. But because more houses


have been built in Bearsted in thepastyear, thecostper property is actually decreas- ing, according to the parish council.


worse,” he said. Labour Cllr John Burden, leader of Gravesham council, said he was afraid that the Tory- led KCC working together with a Tory-led government would mean the third option being im- plemented. However, Cllr Malcolm Robertson (LibDem) vice-chair- man of KCC highways scrutiny committee and a county coun- cillor in Maidstone, said he felt sure the Government would go for the cheapest option, given the current economic climate, which would be another bridge alongside the existing Dartford tunnel. The Campaign to Protect


Rural England (CPRE) in Kent is opposed to any new cross- ing.


Exhibition should draw a crowd MORE than 400 works of art by 33 local artists, potters and sculptors will be on show in The Pil- grims Way Artists’ 15th summer exhibition, to be held in Lenham’s Tithe Barn. The exhibition runs daily from Friday, May 18


to Sunday, May 27, 10am to 6pm, with a late night to 8pm on the 18th. A selection of workshops will include: On


May 21, “Making the most of charcoal, chalk and sepia” run by Lesley Feakes. and an introduction to “Pastels” by Barry Elphick; and on May 24, “Portraits in Oil” hosted by Clive Lennard fol- lowed by Peter Robson, “Using Watercolours”. All workshops cost £15, including materials. For details: keithjanetjackson@btinternet.com.


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