The woman in charge of climate change has pledged to keep a keen eye on plans for a new Lower Thames Crossing after being collared by a few passionate councillors.

Highway England’s public consultation on the crossing, in which they favour a route east of Gravesend, is now closed and a report is being prepared for the government based on people’s feedback on the plans.

However, Gravesham councillors Harold Craske and Leslie Pearton, who represent Higham, and Cllr Leslie Hills, for Chalk, as well as Kent County Councillor for Gravesham Rural Bryan Sweetland probed the Secretary of State for energy and climate change MP Amber Rudd on Monday to make sure it was going to be carefully considered.

Ms Rudd was in New Road, Gravesend, during a whistle-stop tour of Kent to support the Conservative candidate for the police commissioner elections, Matthew Scott.

During a quizzing by the councillors and the Messenger on her interest in the crossing plans from a pollution perspective, she said: “We must make sure the environmental and climate issues are looked at in regards to the new crossing before any decision is made. It is one of the most important considerations, and I can understand people living nearby are very worried.

“It’s not yet on my radar but I’ll be waiting to see what the Department of Transport has to say on the issue after going through Highway England’s report.

“New roads don’t always mean more pollution. In Hastings there was a situation where a new road relieved an area with huge pollution levels so that overall the emissions are lower and more spread out.”

Cllr Sweetland criticised Highway’s England’s report. He said: “Pollution levels haven’t been touched on. It seems that is a discussion for further down the line when the location of the crossing has already been decided. Pollution doesn’t seem to be one of the things they are terribly concerned about.

“It’s just a case of moving the pollution to Gravesham; that’s simply not acceptable to the local councillors or anyone living nearby.

“The proposed Option C running through Shorne is bringing traffic right next to people’s homes and schools. So I’m sorry but I don’t buy Ms Rudd’s argument about new roads dispelling pollution.

“She’s a secretary of state so she needs to have some input on this at some stage.

“I’m glad she has had to chance to speak to local councillors, so she knows the feeling. She has pledged to look over the report and follow this consultation.”