Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport Minutes of Evidence

APPENDIX 26

Memorandum submitted by the Cross River Partnership

1. BACKGROUND

The Cross River Partnership is a strategic alliance that consists of four London Boroughs: the London Borough of Southwark; the London Borough of Lambeth; the Corporation of London, and; the City of Westminster. The Partnership includes private sector representation: the South Bank Employers Group; Railtrack, and other key agencies; the London Tourist Board; Port of London Authority; Groundwork; and FOCUS Central London TEC.

The objectives of the Cross River Partnership since it was established in 1994 are:

• to achieve a balance of economic and social opportunities to the north and south of the Thames;
• to restore the Thames as a unifying feature for the centre of the capital;
• to improve links across the Thames and to provide access for all to the whole Cross River area;
• to create new and exciting employment opportunities for residents, by reinforcing London's status as an international centre for leisure, arts and business;
• to improve the quality of London's environment.

2. FUNDING

The Partnership has in addition to the significant funding put forward by its membership, received funding for its projects from the :

• Millennium Commission;
• National Heritage Lottery;
• Capital Challenge Fund;
• European Structural Funds; and
• Single Regeneration Budget (SRB Rounds 1,2,3).

3. ACTIVITIES

The key purpose of the Cross River Partnership is to provide an integrated approach to the changing nature of central London. At a general level London's economy has enjoyed periods of sustained growth, investment and leading edge development, and is buoyantly characterised by a labour market of high level skills and higher income levels. But this is something of a misnoma to many inner city London residents who are isolated within deprived estates and neighbourhoods, many of which are geographically within a kilometre of this massive wealth generating centre.

Parts of central London are becoming increasingly congested and overwhelmed by the increase in tourism in the capital, and this is projected to continue. It is therefore essential that London has the infrastructure and public transport provision to manage the total number of visitors expected to the capital with the opening of the Millennium Dome, and related Millennium events.

The Cross River Partnership has supported and promoted several projects through differing funding mechanisms which have as a part of their core aim the regeneration of the riverside in Lambeth and Southwark and the integration of those areas into the heart of London. The partnership projects are delivered by individual organisations and fall into three categories:

• Access and Travel
• Environmental/Infrastructure Improvements
• Social Exclusion/Employment and Training.

4.MILLENNIUM COMMISSION FINANCED PROJECTS

In addition to the Millennium Dome, the Millennium Commission has supported a total of twelve schemes throughout the whole of London. Five of these schemes are concentrated within a geographical area along the Thames that is 100m wide on each bank and 0.75 km long. This stretches from Westminster Bridge to London Bridge. Projects financed by the Millennium Commission are the backbone of a much larger regeneration strategy for the wider area of North Southwark and North Lambeth.

The five schemes are:

• Hungerford Bridge

The construction of two new pedestrian footbridges to be suspended from Hungerford Railway Bridge. A direct link from the Embankment/Charing Cross Station to the Royal Festival Hall and the rest of the South Bank, that will be a visitor attraction in its own right.

• The Millennium Footbridge from St Paul's to Bankside

The construction of what will be London's sole pedestrian only bridge.

• The Tate Gallery of Modern Art at Bankside

The conversion of Gilbert Scott's redundant power station into a museum for the Tate Gallery's collection of 20^th Century Art, a museum of international significance.

• Southwark Cathedral

The restoration of one of London's most important churches and the surrounding environment. Involving the rehousing of the church archives and building of a new visitors centre.

• Thames 2000 Millennium Piers

The provision of four new piers, at Westminster, Waterloo - Millennium Wheel, Blackfriars and the Tower of London. Also the provision of river boat services under licence from London River Services a division of London Transport Buses.

The strip of "Millennium Mile" (i) is the core of the Cross River Partnership area and is in a strategic position for the planned Millennium celebrations. The area is prepared to serve the Millennium Dome with a significant proportion, up to a third, of the anticipated 31m visits to London attractions, and the associated 100m journeys during 2000. (ii) It will also service London after the celebrations, as the projected visitor numbers grow to an estimated 36m by 2004. The Cross River Partnership has already committed resources and support to two celebratory festival programmes.

THE THAMES FESTIVAL

This started last year with the extremely successful wire walk across the Thames, and this year will see the "River Alight" with illuminated sculptures made by artists and primary school children from Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark. By the Year 2000 the event aims to have escalated into a series of illuminated river processions that stretch from Richmond to Canary Wharf.

STRING OF PEARLS

The initiative seeks to promote public access to the many cultural, spiritual and historical buildings that run adjacent to the Thames, many concentrated within the Cross River area It is seen as wholly complementary to the wider series of festival events in 2000

The Cross River Partnership, as a cross borough network integrating key private and public sector partners, is providing London with vital strategic environmental and economic direction for the next millennium.

5. TRAVEL AND ACCESS

The majority of visitors to the Millennium Dome will begin and complete their journey within the Cross River Partnership area. Visitors will be able to interchange their modes of transport within the area at strategic junctions such as Waterloo, Charing Cross, London Bridge.

If they come from the West End, they are within a few minutes walk of using Hungerford Bridge to gain direct access onto the South Bank, and from Waterloo the reverse journey is equally direct. If the visitors are arriving at the other end of the area, either London Bridge heading north, or after a visit to St Pauls heading south, they are minutes away from walking across the Millennium Footbridge to either the heart of the City or the Tate at Bankside. The area is flanked by these two strategic crossings that will help circulate visitors between London's tourist hot spots.

For the millions of people expected to visit the Millennium Dome, the first and last impressions will be of their experience within the Cross River area.

As a direct result of the demand on public transport, the Cross River Partnership is delivering the first fully integrated transport river system via the Millennium Piers programme.

5.1 THAMES 2000 MILLENNIUM PIERS

The Millennium Service that will be available from December 1999 will carry 12 per cent. of all visitors to the Millennium Dome in a journey time of around 30 minutes. (iii) The service will continue after the Millennium Dome and will restore the Thames into a convenient and vital transport artery for London. The four piers will offer a combination of express "Millennium" services to the Dome site via Waterloo and Tower Pier, and other Dome services stopping at additional piers en route. During Millennium year, tourist hopper services will run along London's developing pier network that complements the four core millennium funded piers. Discussions are in place to ensure that any other new piers, such as at Battersea Park, the Globe Bankside and possibly Tate Millbank are also fully integrated into the service delivery where possible. The hopper services will then remain as "legacy" services after the Millennium Experience has finished at the Dome site.

5.2 CROSS RIVER TRANSPORT INITIATIVES

Since 1994 the Cross River Partnership has developed a number of local and pan London strategies, under the umbrella of CRIPTS—Cross River Integrated Passenger Transport Strategy. The partners' objectives in developing these strategies are motivated by a need to improve passenger movement North-South across the Thames; along the South Bank and Bankside; and the improved ability of passengers to access the area from wider central London and beyond. It is therefore about developing a transport infrastructure that can serve the south side to the same degree of provision as the more densely provided north. The key transport projects being developed are:

1. Cross River Transit Link—possible street car from St Pancras to Waterloo and on to Oval/Peckham.

2. Eco-Bus—zero/low emission bus from Covent Garden to South Bank/ Bankside to London Bridge and onto Tower Hill.

3.Transport Management Studies—Coach, cycle and traffic management studies have been carried out throughout the Cross River area. Specific work has been completed for Millbank, Waterloo and Bridge and Bankside.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL/INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

Clear and accessible visitor and pedestrian movement patterns in the Cross River area are critical to the area's sustainability as new cultural quarter and "must see" visitor destination. The concentration of millennium schemes must be maximised by providing a high quality environment and infrastructure throughout the area. This must be of a central London standard and be a fitting setting to the millennium attractions. In addition to the flagship millennium schemes, the Cross River Partnership has facilitated this by carrying out a comprehensive programme of physical improvements through out the area.

1. Environmental Improvements along the Spine Route on the South Bank
2. Improvements to the River Wall and Walk at New Globe Walk
3. Improvements to the Thames Path/e.g subway under Westminster Bridge
4. Tate Environs Programme at Bankside
5. Southwark Street Improvements Programme/Urban Design Initiative
6. Improvements to the Lower March and the Cut / SE1
7. SOCIAL EXCLUSION/EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.

The fundamental aim of addressing the economic in balance between the north and south of the Thames, cannot be sustained by the flagship schemes and physical improvements alone. There are a sizeable number of residents in north Southwark and north Lambeth and north Westminster who can only feel that the millennium celebrations are further enforcing their social and economic exclusion. The Partnership is committed to looking at and addressing exclusion by using the economic impetus of the millennium and London's growth sectors to the benefit of local communities: Previous measures have included a successful hotel marketing initiative that has attracted around a dozen hotels or inns to the area. These include the Marriott and Travel Lodge Developments at County Hall and large hotels at London Bridge, Southwark Street and Stamford Street. The growth in visitor numbers to 36m in 2004 will mean the numbers of "nights" spent in London will rise to over 150m. The ability of areas like the Cross River area, which have the capacity to develop a critical mass of hotels to respond to this demand will be critical to the wider London economy.

The partnership has committed staff and resources into the development of a social exclusion strategy based around adding value to the work of specialist agencies working with the most acute cases such as rough sleepers. The partnership recognises its strengths and has determined three main priority areas of work;

1. Young People/Youth

Work to include increasing private sector links with schools through mentoring etc, and other measures to prevent school exclusions, and work with pupils at risk and already excluded.

2. Employer Links and Sectoral Development

Work with businesses and key growth sectors at developing training and recruitment programmes in line with government initiatives such as new deal/welfare to work. To attract and develop new companies into the area, and engage them with the local community.

3. Neighbourhood Specific Programmes.

Package of initiatives and support targetted at specific local communities. Where possible offering direct support and involvement from the private sector through resident and tenant associations and groups.

8.CONCLUSION

The Cross River Partnership is an example of local boroughs and private sector organisations working together by sharing resources and strategies to address the serious economic, social and environmental problems within central London. The projects implemented by the Partnership will bring benefits to the local community, local business and visitors to the area. The Cross River Partnership is a vital element in ensuring that London has the facilities and transport necessary to meet the challenges of the millennium. The Partnership believes that the regeneration of Bankside and North Lambeth is crucial to London's ability to meet the challenges of the millennium. By identifying and addressing this need, the Cross River Partnership will play a positive role in the millennium celebrations.

Footnotes

(i) "Millennium Mile" —term used to describe the area, also used as the title of a major exhibition of London projects planned for August/September. Event co-ordinated by South Bank Employers Group, to be held within Oxo Tower.

(ii) Figures for growth in tourist numbers taken from London Tourist Board projections "Potential 10 Year Growth in Overseas and Domestic Visits and Expenditure to London" issued 6/98.

(iii) Figures generated by Millennium Experience Company.

July 1998

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Prepared 12 August 1998