Bridge opinions drawn at inquiry

Eight residents asked to speak at the session, held in the council chamber at Bexley's civic offices, Bexleyheath Broadway.

All of them, even a supporter of the bridge, expressed major concerns about the potential for serious traffic congestion and the lack of sufficient plans to deal with it.

Tony Ruddell, of Brampton Road, claimed the bridge would lead to a traffic log-jam in his area of Bexleyheath.

He said traffic on the road was already at saturation point and the proposed bridge would be "the last straw".

Mr Ruddell complained about the potential for more noise pollution and increases in asthma and criticised Transport for London's (TfL) traffic predictions as "flawed".

Councillor Ian Clement, leader of the Tory group on Bexley Council, said his group also opposed the bridge.

Although he accepted the need to bring more jobs to the borough he said the tolling proposed for the bridge would not put off long-distance traffic from using it.

He also criticised TfL's traffic modelling and was scathing about the amount of money to be spent on alleviating the problems expected from the extra road users.

Cllr Clement also described the public transport "gap" because most of the major schemes such as Crossrail will not include Bexley and said until it was addressed people would have to use their cars.

There were other speakers from as far away as Sidcup who also claimed the bridge would have a knock-on effect of increased traffic in their area.

But Stefano Borella, from Erith, supported the project and claimed most other people from Erith felt the same.

He said he thought the bridge would pave the way for more Thames crossings and economic benefits for Bexley.

A second evening session of the inquiry is being held at the same venue on November 16 between 7pm and 10pm.

If you would like to speak, contact programme officer Graham Groom on 01403 217889 or email grahamgroom@personaassociates.co.uk