Thames crossing proposal thrown in chaos

01 August 2007

The Government is to reopen the inquiry into the Thames Gateway Bridge after an inspector recommended that planning permission be refused for the scheme.

The decision has been greeted with dismay by local borough councils and the mayor of London, who argue that the six-lane structure would bring much-needed development to southeast London.

However, the inspector found the scale of the economic benefit was ‘suspect’ and would be achieved at a cost to sustainable transport and air pollution. In addition, ‘there is evidence that much of the positive result would occur with or without the bridge’.

Rueing the decision, Ken Livingstone said: ‘Any delay to the Thames Gateway Bridge is a blow to east London and southeast London, in particular. ‘The reopening of the public inquiry will delay bringing the benefits of the Thames Gateway Bridge to an area which sorely needs them.’ A Greenwich Council spokes-person added: ‘It is unfortunate that the objection of those who live nowhere near the bridge should seek to stifle the regeneration and ambitions of our communities and seek to override the democratic mandates of elected local councils and the mayor.’

However, Friends of the Earth London’s campaigns co-ordinator, Jenny Bates, criticised the Government for not following the inspector’s advice. ‘The bridge would bring few benefits to local people and lead to more traffic, more noise and air pollution, and an increase in climate-changing emissions,’ she said.

The inspector concluded that the economic regeneration benefits resulting from the scheme would be outweighed by the ‘disbenefits of the scheme, in terms of increased traffic, reduced safety, increased air pollution, and a shift against walking, cycling and public transport, in favour of the private car’.

‘I consider the proposed TGB would not comply with national planning policy on transport, and would result in a negative contribution to the Government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases,’ the inspector added.

In the reopened inquiry, communities secretary, Hazel Blears, particularly wished to be informed on: a revised traffic model setting out traffic implications of the scheme; the impacts of the revised traffic model on the proposed regeneration benefits; and an assessment of changes in environmental policies and plans, including policies on climate change and air pollution.

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