A north Kent MP has launched a scathing attack on plans to place a river crossing in Gravesham.

Adam Holloway, Gravesham MP, has called the prospect of a tunnel east of Gravesend a “looming disaster” and a “scandal”.

The MP believes other schemes, including a 7-mile long tunnel under Dartford and Thurrock called “Option A” are more viable than a tunnel in his own borough.

At an Adjournment Debate last night (November 14) Mr Holloway said: “The reality is that this is a looming disaster that is going to become a scandal when the public realise that the £5 billion opportunity to fix the M25 is about to be wasted – and when we all realise that it is too late to stop a plan that is going to result in another 40 years of misery on the M25.

“Unfortunately, ministers who are not experts on roads must listen to Highways England - a quango that changes the numbers in support of whichever option they have favoured over time.

“By the time the ministers hear the voices of the public, it will be too late.”

Speaking to an almost empty room Mr Holloway added: “If people realised the enormity of the carnage that will follow if we do not take this opportunity to fix the M25 at Dartford for another 30 years, or however long it takes before we have to come back to sort it, this place would be full of MPs from all parties.”

According to Highways England, a new tunnel opening in 2025 at Option C would take around 77,000 vehicles reducing the motorists at the Dartford Crossing to around 138,000 - about 14 per cent of traffic.

If the proposals are given the green light, a tunnel would be built from the east of Gravesend to the east of Thurrock, Essex, much to the anger of Shorne, Higham, Chalk and Riverview Park residents.

Speaking at the adjournment debate Dartford’s MP Gareth Johnson, said: “When in the 1600s it was decided that London bridge was too congested, the town planners of the day decided that they would not put another crossing right next to the existing one, but would give some resilience to London.

“The same situation happened again and again, so we have crossings at various locations in London.

“That is exactly what we need to do for the future.

“We must ensure that we have a separate crossing location east of Gravesend.”