Freepost RTTH-GRYG-SCXZ
Lower Thames Crossing Consultation
PO Box 1188,
Harrow,
HA1 9NU
13th March 2016
Dear Sir or Madam,
Lower Thames Crossing and Thames Chase Community Forest
Whilst the Thames Chase Trust has expressed its views on the Proposed Lower Thames Crossing via the online portal, our board of trustees felt that it would be helpful to set out in writing an explanation of Thames Chase Community Forest, the existence of the Thames Chase Plan, and the role that the Trust can play in future phases of consultation. This complements the Trust’s support for Route 1 (an additional crossing at the current Dartford Crossing), focussing on the existing road network.
Thames Chase Community Forest
Thames Chase Community Forest covers a 40 square mile area extending from Dagenham in the west to the Markdyke River in the east, and from North Stifford in the south to Brentwood in the north. The Forest was designated by National Government in 1990 with the intention of delivering strategically significant environmental improvements through tree planting, pond, hedgerow and meadow creation with associated links for people and wildlife. This designation followed recognition that the landscape had suffered extensive damage through quarrying, landfilling, previous road building and urban growth. The Thames Chase Community Forest project has since planted 1.3 million trees, increasing woodland cover by 70%, as well as creating or restoring almost 50km of hedgerows and creating or restoring nearly 1000 hectares of non-woodland habitat.
This work is ongoing, with the Thames Chase project having been led by the Thames Chase Trust since 2010 with support from the Forestry Commission, LB of Barking & Dagenham, LB of Havering, Thurrock Council, Brentwood Borough Council and Essex County Council.
Our support for Route 1 is based on the very real concern that after 26 years of environmental improvement to the area following previous quarrying, landfilling and development, Routes 2 and 3 would represent a hugely significant set back to that progress, cutting through the eastern part of Thames Chase Community Forest (from North Ockendon to the Mardyke River), restricting north-south and east-west movement by people and wildlife and further fragmenting the Forest. These routes contradict the original 1990 vision for the Community Forest, whereas Route 1 could enable cross river road capacity to be increased with much less environmental impact on the Community Forest.
The Thames Chase Plan
The delivery of the Thames Chase Community Forest project is guided by the Thames Chase Plan 2014. This is the third Plan to have been produced since 1990, with each Plan setting out a decade long window of delivery. Under the banner ‘transforming landscapes, transforming lives’, the current plan sets out 5 themed programmes of delivery that guide the Forest-wide activity:
1. Forestry (protect, improve, expand)
2. Landscape Regeneration
3. Access
4. People (health, skills, training, economy)
5. Promotion
At a more local level, the Plan sets out projects throughout the Forest, indicating intended timescales and delivery mechanisms, which in combination take forward the overall vision.
The role of Community Forestry through Community Forest Plans is recognised in paragraph 92 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which states:
‘Community Forests offer valuable opportunities for improving the environment around towns, by upgrading the landscape and providing for recreation and wildlife. An approved Community Forest plan may be a material consideration in preparing development plans and in deciding planning applications’
Routes 2 and 3 would significantly affect the delivery of the Thames Chase Plan. As part of the next phase of Community Forest delivery (2014-2022), the scoping, development and delivery of an east-west connection between the River Mardyke and the River Ingrebourne is planned (Thames Chase Plan, p. 61-63). This green link would create a long distance circular green route connecting the Ingrebourne and Mardyke Valley via Rainham Marshes to the south, further unifying the Forest. The creation of a 70mph motorway in this area would create a physical barrier preventing this.
The full Thames Chase Plan 2014 is available via http://www.thameschase.org.uk/about-thames-chase/thames-chase-plan. We also enclose a summary of the Plan with this letter.
Role of Thames Chase Trust
As consultation on the Lower Thames Crossing proposals continues, Thames Chase requests that it is included on the environmental stakeholder consultee list for future consultation phases.
Thames Chase Community Forest has a long and successful track record working with local partners to deliver strategically significant environmental improvements. Most recently this has been demonstrated by Heritage Lottery Fund support for the area through their Landscape Partnership programme worth nearly £2million.
Notwithstanding the views on the proposals outlined in this response, Thames Chase Community Forest would be in a position to accommodate delivery of any off-site mitigation works arising from the construction of a new crossing. Such mitigation would benefit from an established strategic context and partnership working associated with the Thames Chase Plan, whilst offering a constructive means of involving local communities affected by the crossing proposals.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Armstrong
Chair of Thames Chase Trust