Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price has released the data from her Thames crossing survey and criticised council leader John Kent for his lack of action over option D

Earlier on Friday Mr Kent called out the MP on her survey, published this week, which showed 90 percent of Thurrock residents want a new crossing. Mr Kent asked for “clarification about who was asked, exactly what were they asked and how many people responded."

In response, Ms Doyle-Price said: “This survey has been running for the last year. It has been on my website, it has been circulated to my email database and it has been directly mailed to 11,000 households.

“The survey generated 1,170 responses. You should know me well enough by now to realise I would only publicise a survey if it had substance.”

In the letter, Ms Doyle-Price released the details of how the questions in her survey were answered, see below.

When asked if people believe there is a need for a new crossing, 14 percent of respondents said option A should be considered, 21 percent option C, 56 percent further downstream and nine percent said either no or unsure.

Asked what their preferred location is, 14 percent of respondents said Purfleet-Dartford, 12 percent Tilbury-Swancombe, 18 percent East Tilbury-Gravesend, 41 percent Canvey-Medway and 15 percent Southend-Isle of Grain.

77 percent of respondents also strongly agreed that congestion at the current crossing regularly causes gridlock on Thurrock’s roads.

In her letter Ms Doyle-Price was critical of Mr Kent and Thurrock Council’s role in convincing the government that option D (Canvey) was a viable option. She believes the council should’ve investigated the environmental impact of a new crossing and proved how option D was of more benefit.

She said: “As I said to you in our exchange of correspondence two years ago, making the case for option D required environmental health and highways data to support the argument. I am just an MP. I don’t have highways engineers and environmental health officers.

“Your reply to me said that was the responsibility of the Highways Agency. The Highways Agency has told me that option D would not relieve congestion at the Dartford Crossing as so much of the traffic is local. We have nothing to challenge that with.”

She added: “I think we do need to be honest with the people of Thurrock that the case for option D has not been compelling.”

The government is expected to come forward shortly with its final proposal for option A or C before further consultation and planning.