Archived press release

New thames bridge bad for people and environment

9 January 2004

Building the Thames Gateway road bridge would be bad for local people and bad for the environment Friends of the Earth said today. The Government announced today that it is prepared to release 2 million of Government PFI credit for the proposed 450 million Thames Gateway Bridge between Beckton in the east and Thamesmead in the south-east of London.

Friends of the Earth opposes the proposed 6-lane road bridge because:

• It would lead to an increase in traffic levels in the area, bringing more pollution and congestion to some of the poorest parts of London, where car ownership is low anyway.

• A top independent expert [1] says it would do little or nothing to relieve unemployment locally, and that there are better and cheaper ways to help regenerate the area.

• The bridge would result in "worse journey times for most people" according to one transport expert [2], and a report for John Prescott's department says the bridge "could even be counter productive" to business development because of the added congestion.

• Road transport is also one of the biggest contributors to climate change which threatens extinction to a quarter of the world's species in the next 50 years.

• The recent public consultation on the bridge was flawed, as there was inadequate information available and no alternative schemes were offered. People should be offered real choices on what transport options would best help their area and improve transport access.

Friends of the Earth's London Campaigns Co-ordinator Jenny Bates said:

"The Thames Gateway bridge would be bad for the environment and bad for local people. It will significantly increase traffic congestion and air pollution in some of the poorest areas of London, and contribute to dangerous climate change too. The Mayor is putting the interests of big business first. There are better and cheaper ways to help regenerate the local area and improve access, without encouraging more people to use their cars."

Notes

1. Professor John Whitelegg has written a report: "Thames Gateway River Crossing: a social, economic and environmental assessment", January 2002, for the Simon Woolf Charitable Foundation.

2. John Elliott has written a report: "A Solution looking for a Problem - a review of Transport for London's proposals for river crossings in East London and their traffic impact", March 2003, for Transport 2000.

More information:
Thames Gateway
Mayors consultation
Facts and figures

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust