Archived press release

Public inquiry into thames gateway bridge welcomed

19 January 2005

Friends of the Earth has welcomed Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's decision today to hold a Public Inquiry into the controversial 6-lane Thames Gateway Bridge.

Friends of the Earth's London Regional campaigner Jenny Bates said:

"We are delighted that Mr Prescott has called a public inquiry into this damaging and unnecessary road bridge. The Thames Gateway Bridge would bring more noise and pollution to people living locally, and result in more traffic and congestion on the capital's roads. We need sustainable solutions to London's transport problems rather than wasting money on a project that will only make them worse."

A full Public Inquiry will allow a fuller examination ofthe adverse environmental impacts and claimed benefits of this controversial 6-lane road bridge between Thamesmead in Greenwich and Beckton in Newham.

Transport for London (TfL) admits that the proposed scheme would have adverse effects. It would:

• add to breaches of European and Government air quality standards, which will affect peoples health particularly children and elderly people;

• cause noise disturbance to the extent that, according to WHO guidelines, people may need to sleep with their windows closed;

• have "little impact" on traffic flows on existing crossings including the Blackwall Tunnel, a fact admitted by TfL.

Transport for London's traffic figures have also been disputed by an independent transport consultant who believes that there would be more traffic and congestion than TfL concede. This would mean worse adverse environmental effects than TfL admit in their Environmental Impact Assessment, and also longer journey times meaning claimed accessibility improvements would be less than TfLhave stated.

This scheme has so far progressed without adequate public consultation - at TfL's 2003 consultation, which the Mayor uses to claim substantial support for the scheme, proper traffic figures were not available, and people were not offered a choice of scheme. In fact substantial opposition has developed to this scheme, and Friends of the Earth London has found that the more people find out about the scheme, the less they like it.

Friends of the Earth London want to see a proper assessment of which transport schemes would best help improve transport access for local people without adding to the problems in the way that this scheme would.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust