SO, Chris Grayling has added more major roadworks in Thurrock with his announcement for new slip roads for Lakeside. Should we be excited?

Does Mr Grayling drive a car, I wonder?

We probably do need better access to Lakeside, but we don’t need a new crossing at Tilbury because most of the time, when we get closure of the bridge, it is because some drivers going into Kent get into the wrong lanes when leaving Essex and crashes happen when drivers get in each other’s way.

Each time it happens traffic backs up all the way to Essex.

Things could also improve on the Kent approach to the tunnels with a similar segregation and removal of the exit at junction 1A, with traffic for the A206 diverted to exit at junction 1B instead.

Why not also ban fuel tankers from the tunnels completely and have them conveyed on a ferry over the Thames instead?

Also, before we get thousands more residents in Lakeside, the railway needs duelling between Upminster and Grays, and 12-car trains run regularly during rush hour to soak up the passengers.

Sure, that will mean such trains need guards because of their length and be a tad more expensive for c2c to run, but it would be a boost for commuters in Stanfordle-Hope and Tilbury just as much as for those in the new Lakeside town.

Longer trains are more efficient than just more trains, since they all end up in just four platforms at Fenchurch Street.

ADRIAN J SINGLETON

Duarte Place

Chafford Hundred