Yet another quango has come into existence to make decisions about economic and housing growth along the Thames estuary: Thames Estuary Growth set to be discussed by Thurrock Council – http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/05/thames-estuary-growth-set-discussed-thurrock-council/ Don’t be taken in by the headline – sure, Thurrock Council will be discussing the priorities of the Thames Estuary 2010 Growth Commission but any conclusions they come to will be advisory at the best.

This appears to be a re-heated version of the Thames Gateway initiative which was being discussed ten or more years ago. The Thames Gateway initiative made a token nod to public consultation but most of the decisions were made behind closed doors before it disappeared into the ether. We strongly suspect that it will be the same with the Thames Estuary 2010 Growth Commission – a token nod to asking us plebs what we think with the big decisions being made well away from any scrutiny or public accountability.

The ‘consultations’ about the Lower Thames Crossing have been a joke in that all we’ve been asked to comment upon are variants of the proposal – there is no possibility that the need for the crossing will ever be allowed to be questioned and challenged. Whatever the Thames Estuary 2010 Growth Commission lay out in front of us mere mortals will most likely be a series of proposals with slight variations between them which we’ll be asked to comment upon.

Look at where we are now with the only employment growth coming from massive distribution facilities such as Amazon at Tilbury with shite employment practices, ever increasing traffic and pollution levels, housing being stuffed into every available corner with the infrastructure needed to support it lagging way behind… If people had been asked if this was what they wanted for the future development of the region, the answer most likely would have been a resounding no!

We suspect that what we will be getting is more new roads carving up what little green space is left, more housing to absorb the overflow from London as the project of social cleansing from the capital intensifies and more precarious ’employment opportunities’ in logistics and distribution that operate 24/7. In other words, we get what suits big business rather than a more sustainable and liveable future that most people in the region, if they had the chance to really think things through, would much prefer.

Yet again, we have a planning initiative where major developments that suit the interests of big business are imposed upon a population that has no say in the matter whatsoever. Seriously, what else can we expect from a political and economic system in thrall to the doctrine of neo-liberalism? We’re not going to get bottom up participation in shaping planning decisions for the benefit of the people who live here until there’s a serious challenge to a political and economic system that regards us plebs as little more than interchangeable and ultimately, disposable work units.