Thousands of campaigners have backed a petition to change the location of the Lower Thames Crossing closer to Dartford because of questions about the town's air quality.

The decision recently announced by the Secretary of State is that the new crossing will be built at Option C, east of Gravesend.

Opposition to the new crossing say that it won’t ease pollution problems and that it won’t solve congestion problems on the M25.

Kent Wildlife Trust have been openly against the decision.

In a statement, the trust said: “Kent Wildlife Trust believes that the only sustainable way to reduce congestion is to reduce demand.

“This has the additional benefit of reducing air pollution and the greenhouse gasses that result in climate change.

“Air pollution is the leading environmental health risk factor in the UK, and climate change is one of the greatest threats to our environment and the ‘ecosystem services’ which we depend upon.”

News Shopper:

Campaigners have called for the crossing to be moved to link the M25 in Essex directly to the M25 in Kent, by-passing the hot spots of congestion around the existing Dartford-Thurrock Crossing with a long tunnel.

The Lower Thames Crossing Association say a new tunnel closer to Dartford, in Sutton at Hone,  would take more cross-river traffic and reduce pollution.

More than 2,000 people have backed the petition to change the crossing decision.

Speaking to the News Shopper, council leader Jeremy Kite said: “Now really isn’t the time for petitions. They need to make sure that option C works and we get the best result.

“Sutton-at-Hone has every right to be as protected as anywhere else and I have great respect for what they are doing over in Gravesend campaigning for the change but we need to work together to make sure Option C works.

“I want to see the government’s pollution strategy as much as anyone. I want to see break for users of environmentally friendly cars and more charging points, we all know air quality is an issue that has been going on for some time – it is an issue for all of us.”

According to a 2010 PHE report, approximately 6.7 per cent of deaths in Dartford are attributable to particle air pollution.

Ashely Wassall, Lib Dem Kent County Council candidate for West Dartford, said the main issue is pollution, and

He said: “We don't want to re-open the consultation unless there is good reason to do so.

“We need to urgently review as a starting point public transport options at the existing crossing, which could offset 10 per cent of traffic.

“We are also calling for a wider review into ways to reduce traffic sustainably across the area in the longer term."