A council which has thrown its weight behind plans for a new Thames crossing was today warned to wait for more details before giving its support.
Castle Point Tory MP Bob Spink was speaking out after a special cabinet meeting of Southend Council backed the idea of the crossing.
Preliminary plans show the link would travel underground to Kent with the entrance coming out at Sadlers Farm roundabout, in Benfleet.
Mr Spink said: "There would be definite benefits and definite problems caused by this crossing.
"There would be extra jobs, access to Kent for the people of Castle Point and more infrastructure but there would also be more air pollution from the cars using the crossing and the A130 could become an outer London orbital road.
"There would be massive congestion on the A127 and the A130 from the overspill of the crossing and there would be more building of houses in an already over-developed area."
He added: "It would be regrettable if Southend Council voted in favour of this crossing without discussing it with MPs and with the adjoining council, Castle Point, or without having all the information."
Published Friday November 8, 2002
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