Examination of Witnesses (Questions 4420
- 4439)
4420. The traffic is being rerouted elsewhere
within the vicinity. Of course, the effect of the Charing Cross
Road worksite, as I think you showed on one of your plans (it
may be helpful if we turn to PRD (Petition Response Document)
P57), and if we turn to the appendix in the plans, Map C5 (ix),
this is the stage C in that eight-stage phase that you see.[11]
You can see the Charing Cross Road worksite, the eastern worksite,
is there in operation which closes off the current access arrangements
to Centre Point, which you described earlier by reference to your
plan. Does it not?
(Sir Digby Jones): Yes.
4421. So that is stage C. So that effectively
remains the position throughout the following phases of the works.
As you know, the permanent position is that that Plaza area to
the west of Centre Point Tower, which is there largely covered
by the worksite hatching, accommodates two new Crossrail underground
station entrances and is then subject to landscaping and restoration
to public roads.
(Sir Digby Jones): So for five years where
do I welcome a Prime Minister or a member of the Royal Family?
4422. You understand the permanent position
as well, do you not?
(Sir Digby Jones): I do. But for five years
where would I do it?
4423. I am afraid, it is a convention and the
reality is that barristers do not know and they ask questions—they
cannot answer. I will leave that to Mr Harwood to pursue.
(Sir Digby Jones): I am not going to be concerned
after five years; I am concerned for the next five years.
4424. I am going to come to that. The point
I am seeking to establish is that it is clear that under this
arrangement (I think you are familiar with the phased plan, as
you have indicated) the effect of the works is that you lose your
existing access arrangements to the west of Centre Point Tower.
(Sir Digby Jones): On a permanent basis?
4425. Yes.
(Sir Digby Jones): That little part there,
yes.
4426. That includes the existing drop-off point.
(Sir Digby Jones): Yes.
4427. The CBI has not proposed, has it, any
alternative to Crossrail's detailed phased traffic management
arrangements of which this is the third phase? It has not suggested
that it could be dealt with any differently or indeed with any
less impact on surrounding occupiers and landowners?
(Sir Digby Jones): Well, just as it is not
for barristers to do that it is not for directors general to prepare
that either.
4428. Whatever the whys and wherefores, you
effectively, for these purposes, accept that Crossrail's phased
arrangement is the way in which it has to be done?
(Sir Digby Jones): To the best of my knowledge,
I would say that what they are suggesting, frankly, I do not like
it but what else do you do?
4429. Quite so. A very fair answer, if I may
say so. One feature of these plans, as we can see from this plan,
is that St Giles High Street, which you can see running up from
the south-eastern corner of this plan on a north-westerly axis
and then straight as it comes past the eastern side of Centre
Point Tower—do you see that?
(Sir Digby Jones): Yes.
4430. That is a feature of the interim access
arrangements which continues throughout each of the most intensive
phases of work. Yes? We can see that that provides highway access
to the eastern side of Centre Point Tower at a point, broadly,
where the left-turn filter arrow is shown on this plan. Do you
see that?
(Sir Digby Jones): I see it.
4431. Is it right, from what you have said earlier
and what was said in opening, that your preference would be to
maintain the vehicular access to that point—that is to say,
to the eastern side of Centre Point Tower—throughout the
course of the works and permanently?
(Sir Digby Jones): Rather than what?
4432. That is your preferred solution to the
temporary and the permanent situation after the Crossrail and
London Underground works have been concluded.
(Sir Digby Jones): Rather than?
4433. I am sorry. Is that your preferred solution?
(Sir Digby Jones): It is a solution but it
is not one that I am sitting here and saying: "Yes, I would
really like that, please." What I am saying is: "Are
you offering me a suite of solutions here or are you just saying
`That is the one. Do you like it?'"
4434. Do you have a solution which, on advice
or having examined the matter, you would regard as a better solution?
(Sir Digby Jones): Have you ever been there?
4435. Could you just answer, please?
(Sir Digby Jones): I am about to give you an
answer. Have you ever been there?
4436. Chairman: Mr Jones, counsel is
asking the questions.
(Sir Digby Jones): Because under there you
have got a bus terminus, you have got a taxi rank, you have a
place where, when it gets dark, is not a particularly salubrious
place to be. It is certainly not a place where I would have young
women who work for me going round there late at night on their
own when they finish work. It is not an ideal place for a set-down
or pick-up. If you are saying it is the only place I can do this,
of course I will say to you then I have to tolerate it; what I
am saying is it is not preferred, as your question was: "Is
it preferred?" The answer is I do not prefer it because I
do not want to be here, but if that is the only one in town then
I am going to have to accept it.
4437. Mr Mould: Let us be clear. We have
agreed that Crossrail is a good thing and Crossrail should happen.
(Sir Digby Jones): Yes.
4438. If Crossrail is going to happen we have
agreed that there has to be during the construction phase a worksite
which will effectively remove the CBI's existing drop-off point
to the west of Centre Point Tower.
(Sir Digby Jones): Yes.
4439. So an alternative location has to be found.
(Sir Digby Jones) Yes.
11 Crossrail Ref: P57, Layout plan-C5 (ix) Tottenham
Court Road East-Traffic Management Stage C Outline (CAMDLB-6703-004). Back
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