CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop a new bridge over the Thames have had their hopes boosted by a consultant's report.

The report has been commissioned by Bexley Council, which supports the idea of the Thames Gateway Bridge in principle.

Traffic consultant Terry Wang will be present the report as part of the council's evidence to the public inquiry into the bridge project, due to get under way yesterday.

Bexley Council has registered as an objector because its concerns about increased traffic and mitigation for Bexley roads have not been satisfied.

Mr Wang has concluded the traffic predictions made by Transport for London (TfL) to support its case for the bridge are "unreliable".

His report says the computer modelling done by TfL to predict traffic increases had failed to take account of major new road schemes and changes introduced from 1996 to 2001.

After going through Mr Wang's findings, Jacqui Wise from Action Group Against the Bridge (AGAB) said the report also refers to some remodelling done by TfL's consultants Halcrow, in which TfL has changed traffic signal timings and altered the number of traffic lanes and a new one-way system.

Mrs Wise said although Mr Wang was allowed access to TfL's traffic modelling, opponents of the bridge were told they could not have access as it was "commercialy sensitive".

AGAB has now asked the inquiry inspector Michael Ellison to overrule TfL.

Mrs Wise said: "Bexley Council's evidence reiterates concerns raised by objectors to this cont- roversial road scheme.

"If, as we suspect, TfL's traffic modelling is an underestimate, what ramifications does this have on residents and businesses in the affected boroughs and on congestion, air pollution, noise, road casualties and safeguarding our natural habitats?"

Councillor Daniel Francis said: "Bexley's evidence is going to be some of the most powerful to be heard at the inquiry, to help us get the best possible deal for Bexley residents.

"Any changes to be made to Bexley's roads will be a matter decided by Bexley Council."