Lewis Adams and Stuart Woodward
BBC News, Essex
Stuart Woodward / BBC
Jackie Thacker says her heart was broken by plans for crossing the lower Thames
The crossing of the lower Thames will become the largest road tunnel in the United Kingdom and is described by National Highways as “the most important road project of a generation”. But what about people whose life is disrupted?
Surrounded by rolling fields and a network of very united neighbors, Jackie Thatcher’s house in Orsett, Essex, provided the serene location in which she dreamed of taking advantage of the retreat.
However, one by one, these neighbors packed their bags and left, never to return to the houses they once loved.
The 75 -year -old man now faces a brutal choice: sell or live next to a major road.
The government is ahead of plans for the lower crossing of the Thames, a 14.5 mile (23 km) road connecting Essex and Kent via two tunnels under the river.
It should be built by 2032 at the cost of up to 10 billion pounds sterling.
But for those who live on the road, confirmed by the government on Tuesday, this ambition has less attraction.
“It’s like a knot flowing around our neck, since the route was chosen,” said Ms. Thacker, who has lived in her house for 38 years.
National motorways
About 2.6 miles (4.2 km) from the route will be underground
Ms. Thacker, a grandmother, has spent most of the last four decades enjoying the life of the village: walking towards the pub, playing Petanque and visiting the local cricket club.
She becomes in tears while explaining how everything she loves in her life could soon be flattened, sold or transformed into construction.
“Since we are here, we have had wonderful neighbors,” said Ms. Thacker.
“But now those we have known for a long time have had to move due to the pressures caused knowing that the road was taking place.
“It has frightened their lives, so they have evolved now.”
It is not the happy ending that she was considering for her twilight years.
“It breaks my heart,” she admits. “I am stressed beyond belief.
“I could see myself being here until the end of life and having a peaceful end of life, but it will no longer be peaceful.”
National motorways
The tunnels will be located east of Gravesend in Kent and west of east of Tilbury in Essex
For more than 60 years, the Dartford Crossing has been the only road on the Thames road east of London.
However, it is now used by more traffic than ever designed, creating a bottleneck that frequently blocks the M25 frequently.
By providing another route, connecting the A2 and M2 to Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock, we hope that the lower crossing of the Thames will reduce the 20%traffic.
About 2.6 miles (4.2 km) from the route will be underground, with tunnels north and southern southern direction next to each other under the Thames.
We expect that they are dug east of Gravesend in Kent and west of east of Tilbury in Essex.
But National Highways was accused of having known everything in its wake to open the way to the new road.
Until now, it has spent more than 1.2 billion pounds sterling in planning and land costs.
The authority indicates that 76 residential properties are on land it needs for the route, 58 of which have already been purchased via a voluntary regime.
A total of 35 will be demolished, the rest affected by construction. He insisted that each purchase was “examined in a robust manner”.
Stuart Woodward / BBC
Alan Rouse says that the saga has turned upside down for his whole family
Alan Rouse, who has lived in the same five -bedroom house in Orsett for 25 years, was among those who were invited to sell.
“The whole thing is a complete mess from start to finish,” he sighs.
The 76 -year -old man was building a property for his son in the garden when he hit the door.
“They said,” Do not continue to build it-we’re going to shoot your home, “he explains.
It was in 2018. Five years later, Mr. Rouse took another call.
He was told that his house was no longer necessary.
But Mr. Rouse had already accepted an agreement of 1.2 million pounds sterling in national motorways, of which 1 million sterling books landed on his bank account.
He has now received an ultimatum: keep the money and leave his home by November, or buy the property on national highways and stay.
“They should have thought about it. They jumped too early and bought properties they don’t need,” said Rouse.
“But if this new road will cross the top of my house, we don’t want to be here. It’s overwhelming for the whole family.
“I have been sitting in this mess for seven years now. Who is seven years old?”
Stuart Woodward / BBC
Tony and Leigh Hughes say they have received a Highways National Lowball offer for their home
Concerns have also been raised by activists, who fear that the old woods will be destroyed when the work begins in 2026.
For Tony and Leigh Hughes, who have lived in South Ockendon for 34 years, potential fauna damage has only worsened their grief.
National Highways has promised that 80% of the crossing would take place through a tunnel, a cup or an embankment to mix it in the landscape.
He also wants to make seven “green bridges” to provide safer crossroads to people and fauna.
One of these bridges falls 75 m (250 feet) from the house of M. and Mrs. Hughes.
Ms. Hughes fears that residents and fauna will be disrupted during its construction.
“There will be times when traffic is 24/7. We will not be able to go to our property and the road will be closed on weekends,” she said.
“It’s very, very summary about what our life will be.
“It will affect people who come to us. Who would like to visit us? It is a horrible and intimidating thought that I could shop and not be able to go home.”
The couple was offered an agreement for their house, but they think it is 20% under their market value.
They say they feel trapped because their property is no longer an attractive proposal for a buyer.
Ms. Hughes continues: “This is a very inhuman situation to be because we cannot sell, apart from national highways at a reversed price.”
Her husband, 56, adds: “It’s beautiful here and we never intended to leave.
“Even if we have our property, we have no control over the situation.
“We have to find a cash buyer who is ready to buy a nice chalet next to a highway and I’m sorry, but these buyers are very, very few.”
Stuart Woodward / BBC
The South Ockendon roller fields could get out of it …
National motorways
… to that
In a declaration to the BBC, National Highways insists that its historic project “will improve travel and bring significant advantages” to the region.
However, a spokesman admits that there will be an impact on the properties along the route.
“Thanks to a complete consultation program, we have been able to considerably reduce the affected number by almost 70% and conclude voluntary agreements with a lot,” he said.
“After confirmation of our planning consent this week, we will again speak to the owners impacted from the next steps.”
But what is the next step for those who have their uprooted life?
“We do not know where we will be in five years,” explains Mr. Hughes. “I know that this area will not be as beautiful as it is now.”
A Ms. Thacker in tears adds: “I just can’t visualize the move. I love the place so much and I think that moving would be too stressful.”
As for Mr. Rouse, he concludes: “I have nowhere to go, but I don’t want to live here with this highway through my house.
“The highways do not care, aren’t it? They are not worried; they just want their journey.”
