Stephen Metcalfe MP cautiously welcomes the announcement by the Lower Thames Crossing project to introduce a Supply Chain School to support local businesses. Although Stephen remains sceptical about the effectiveness of the current crossing proposals, this move should allow for greater local community involvement.

The Lower Thames Crossing project are to introduce a Supply Chain School to support local businesses as the project develops. The Supply Chain School will help upskill businesses, putting them in the best possible position to tender for work on the project. In doing this they will help better equip local businesses to be able to get involved as well as keep investment from the project in the local economy.

The announcement follows a meeting with the new Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, to raise ongoing local concerns about the Lower Thames Crossing and the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget Statement which Stephen used to question both the cost and effectiveness of the current proposals. Watch here

Businesses can register for the school here and take learning modules on topics which will provide a firm basis for working on infrastructure projects. An introductory workshop will be held on Friday 18 October 2019, 8:30am-12:30pm at Langdon Hills Golf and Country Club, Lower Dunton Rd RM14 3TY.

Stephen Metcalfe said: “My view on the Lower Thames Crossing has not changed. I remain convinced that an additional crossing as currently proposed will not actually tackle the problems we experience with catastrophic congestion when the existing crossing fails.

That said, if there is to be an additional Lower Thames Crossing, it is welcome that Highways England works not just to minimize the huge impact the route will have on my constituents but invest in local businesses too.

I encourage local businesses to join the Supply Chain School to put them in the best possible position to tender for work on the project and help keep investment from the project in the local economy”.