A Thames crossing somewhere between the Isle of Grain and Gravesend is increasingly possible.

It is one of three routes being considered by the government to provide a new link between the Kent and Essex regeneration areas.

The government ordered fresh investigations into three routes for the crossing though one, through Ebbsfleet, faces the axe because of its impact on the massive Eastern Quarry developments.

The other major scheme is to build a new crossing alongside the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford.

Cllr Rodney Chambers, leader of Medway Council, said he was fed up with the fudged consultations now taking place.

He said: “They must make it clear where this crossing is going to go – at the moment all it says is east of Gravesend.”

A suggestion is to cross between Higham and Cooling – areas of conservation importance – join the M2 at the Cobham interchange, then use a railside motorway over Blue Bell Hill to join the M20 at the A249 junction outside Maidstone.

“It leaves so many questions unclear. It’s as though they don’t have any real idea what they want,” said Cllr Chambers.