Environmental talks over tunnel

Land would be reclaimed off Canvey Island

A business group is to hold talks with the RSPB about the environmental impact of a plan to build a tunnel under the River Thames.

MetroTidal Ltd said it would meet with the RSPB to discuss its planned £2bn to £4bn crossing between Medway and Canvey Island in the near future.

The RSPB said the scheme could cause major damage to North Kent marshes.

MetroTidal said although some wetland would be affected the scheme had wider environmental benefits.

Director Mark Willingdale said: "I don't want to deny the sensitivity of the issues... but as it's a tunnel the actual breadth of the corridor affected is something like 60 metres.

"Once it's all back in position the lights, the noise, the fumes can be controlled so it's really a matter of how it's done and what are the impacts at the end of the works."

The consortium has submitted plans for a tunnel, surge-tide barrier, tidal power plant and rail and road routes to the Department for Transport and the Environment Agency.

The tunnel would be formed by immersing concrete tubes within a trench dredged across the Thames.

Land would be reclaimed off Canvey Island, a lagoon created on the Kent side of the river and a flood barrier installed between the two.

The plans also include a new rail route for the Thames Gateway that would link into London's Cross Rail network.

RSPB Director for South East England, Chris Corrigan, said if a crossing was needed all the options should be considered and the environmental damage assessed.