I think the Lower Thames Crossing will make HS2 look like a model of efficiency by the time it is completed.

£1.2bn spent without even a shovel of dirt being removed. [1] Instead they have spent money on shite like this [2] (which may be admirable in themselves, but bribes to shut local communities and charities up shouldn't be part of the project).

[1] https://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/news/1-2bn-spent-on-l...

[2] https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/lower-thames-crossi...

> Instead they have spent money on shite like this [2]

Half a million at most out of 1.2 billion.

> To date, 55 projects have been awarded grants of up to £10,000

The bribes are looking much worse for overhead lines. Just giving people money (off their bill) for doing no work and making no real sacrifice. People will either be insulted by the low amount or insulted at the bribe. It will change no minds.

Running community benefit projects as mitigation for other harms does make some sense when the cost of an engineering solution is much higher.

I'm way more ok with worthy bribes than I am with nonsense like the £100m bat tunnel. But yeah it's still pretty ridiculous.

Nimbyism needs to be shut down at the earliest opportunity when a project is mandatory for the economic growth of the country, people moan about their energy prices but also moan when a wind turbine is within viewing distance of their house.

I have seen the current Labour government start to override councils putting up fusses, too early to see if it makes any meaningful effect though.

I watched this video from TLDR last year and found it easy to understand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYPFlDGQah4