APPENDIX 19
Memorandum submitted
by the Corporation of London
1. The Committee will be aware from its last inquiry
that the Corporation of London has been unreserved in its support
for Greenwich as the focus for the nation's Millennium Celebrations.
The Corporation played an active part in winning the Experience
for Greenwich, and is playing a continuing role to help ensure
the ultimate success of the Millennium Experience.
2. As we informed the Committee at the time of the
inquiry into the Millennium Dome, the Corporation proposes to
give up to £6m towards the Millennium Experience. The Corporation
is playing an active part in promoting the project to City institutions
and discussions regarding further sponsorship are progressing
satisfactorily. The Committee's last report stated that the sponsorship
targets for the Millennium Experience were very ambitious. Indeed
they are, but this is a very special project. Certainly the negotiations
and contacts with which the Corporation has been associated have
been very positive. It should be noted that the sums involved
are very large, and as a consequence negotiations are inevitably
going to be protracted, as potential sponsors need to ensure value
for money for their shareholders. The Corporation of London share
the Government's confidence that the sponsorship targets are achievable.
3. With regard to the content of the Dome, discussions
are progressing with regard to the design of the City zone. The
intention is to create an exciting experience around the theme
of Money, and the contribution of the financial services industry,
including the City of London, to the economy and society. The
design company is contributing some amazing and inspirational
ideas. The Corporation is satisfied both with the designers and
with the rate at which the discussions are advancing.
4. As an institution in the Capital, the Corporation
of London has always been of the view that the Capital should
provide the focus of the nation's celebrations for the Millennium.
London's celebrations are not confined to the Dome and the Millennium
Experience. As the Committee will be aware there are a number
of other initiatives within the Capital which are being progressed
with assistance from the Millennium Commission. At this stage
there are two further initiatives with which the Corporation will
be involved, namely the Thames 2000 initiative and the Millennium
Bridge at Bankside.
5. The Thames 2000 initiative is of course the proposal
for a Riverbus service along the Thames. The initiative has the
personal and active support of the Deputy Prime Minister, who
has been a major driving force, appointing Cross River Partnership
to progress the initiative last July. Urban regeneration for Greenwich
is an important aspect of the Millennium Dome project. In order
for the long term regeneration benefits to be maximised, the area
is in need of improved transport links. Of course the Jubilee
Line and the Docklands Light Railway are coming to Greenwich in
time for the Experience, but the use of the River as a vehicle
for public transport is immensely attractive. With this in mind,
the Corporation sees the Deputy Prime Minister's Thames 2000 initiative,
as both a complement to the Corporation's support for the Dome,
and our role in the Cross River partnership.
6. As a partner in the Cross River partnership the
Corporation has had a strong involvement. Indeed, the project
has been led on behalf of the Cross River Partnership by the Chairman
of the Policy and Resources Committee, Judith Mayhew.
7. The Corporation supports the Deputy Prime Minister's
view that the riverbus should provide a lasting legacy for the
Thames, beyond serving the Millennium Experience. The riverbus
will be predominantly a tourist mode of transport, but there is
the potential for wider use. While demand for the service during
the period of the Millennium Experience is expected to be strong,
for the long term the service will only prove a legacy if it is
fully integrated with the public transport system. The Thames
2000 initiative involves the construction of a new pier network
to enable exchange with other public transport modes. With the
assistance of £7m from the Millennium Commission new piers
are to be built at Waterloo, Blackfriars, Westminster and the
Tower of London. The Corporation is to give £500,000 towards
the construction of a new pier in the vicinity of Blackfriars
(subject to the necessary planning approvals and other assurances).
8. The Deputy Prime Minister is well aware of the
difficulties and the reasons for failure of previous riverbus
services. It is hoped that these can be overcome so that the Thames
2000 Riverbus service continues to serve the Capital for many
years.
9. The Corporation is shortly to consider the planning
application to construct the Millennium Bridge at Bankside. The
footbridge will link the City with Southwark and will be constructed
with the assistance of a grant of £7m from the Millennium
Commission. The Bridge (subject to the necessary planning approvals)
will be constructed on the South Bank close to the new Tate at
Bankside and join the north bank of the Thames close to St Paul's
Cathedral. It is hoped that the Dome, together with these other
initiatives, as well as others all over the country, will do much
to boost national pride and contribute to a positive public mood
as we enter the next Millennium.
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