Examination of Witnesses (Questions 4520
- 4539)
4520. Sir Digby Jones raised concerns about
the qualitative matters and standards of lighting and security
and so forth. Just help the Committee with that. What is the Promoter's
position in relation to addressing those qualitative concerns
through the detailed design process?
(Mr Anderson): I think point seven in the sheet
we were looking at earlier highlights the first of those points,
and it is subject to discussion with the various authorities in
due course.
4521. Just finally, then, turning away from
consideration of access to a point raised by Mr Harwood in opening,
that is to say, controls over environmental impacts and the Environmental
Statement. The Committee will recall the detailed issues of compliance
in giving your evidence to the Committee in relation to the Smithfield
Market Traders' Petition. For the record, I can give the reference
for that as Day 13, paragraphs 3917 to 3923.[29]
Mr Anderson, can we turn, please, finally, to information paper
D2.[30]
If we turn to the second page of that information paper, Section
2 "Statement of intent". We see, at 2.1: "It is
the intention of the Secretary of State to carry out the project
so that its impact is as assessed in the Environmental Statement."
Then, paragraph 2.2: "This paper sets out the controls contained
in the Bill and in general legislation which, along with undertakings
given by the Secretary of State, will ensure that impacts which
have been assessed will not be exceeded so as to depart from the
ES assumptions unless this: results from a change in circumstances
which was not likely at the time of the ES; or would not be likely
to have significant environmental effects (meaning significant
adverse effects where the change is a modification to the current
project; or would be subject to a separate consent process (and
therefore further EIA if required). This will ensure that where
EIA is legally required, works will not take place unless they
have been assessed already as part of the Crossrail ES or are
subject to a further EIA and consent process." Then it refers
to contractual controls on the construction and operation of the
scheme by the nominated undertaker. Mr Anderson, that was the
position set out in the information paper. Does that remain the
position of the Promoter in relation to these matters?
(Mr Anderson): Yes, that is correct.
The paper goes on to explain the measures that would happen without
the Bill, which is somewhere else there.
4522. Mr Mould: Thank you.
Cross-examined by Mr
Harwood
4523. Mr Harwood: Thank you, Mr Chairman.
Mr Anderson, just a few questions on the access issues. First
of all, in terms of pedestrian access, do you agree that what
is important here is pedestrian access to the Tower from street
level rather than access into Centre Point complex from other
routes such as through the car park?
(Mr Anderson): Yes, I agree that
is a desirable aim.
4524. In terms of the standards to be achieved,
put up please CBI 12.[31]
This is the specification. For example: number two, "All
temporary footway routes to be in compliance with Disability Discrimination
Act requirements". Is that an issue for you? Do you accept
that?
(Mr Anderson): Yes, I think a
number of points here are issues to be addressed as we take the
detail of the process forward and a number do relate to public
highways, and these are clearly matters which the highway authority
and planning authority will have a view upon, and these tend,
in general, after any discussions and detailed arrangements, to
be taken forward.
4525. Does the Promoter accept that temporary
footway route should be compliant with the Disability Discrimination
Act?
(Mr Anderson): Yes.
4526. Do you accept they should be suitably
illuminated in the hours of darkness to an appropriate standard
such as BS5489?
(Mr Anderson): Yes. Item 5. I agree that would
be an appropriate standard to consider in the context of the discussions
with the relevant authorities. I think one needs to bear in mind
here some of these measures could be temporary in their nature
possibly for quite short periods, but in general I think this
does provide a context for the discussions we would have on the
detailed arrangements.
4527. Is there anything in the specifications
which the Promoter cannot agree to at this stage?
(Mr Anderson): It is not a question of us not
agreeing to these matters, I think at this stage we are still
working on the detailed proposals, as I have indicated, and I
would expect matters such as security, lighting, most of the matters
set down here to form part of the discussions with the Highways
Authorities, and indeed the freeholder of the building.
4528. Can I turn to questions of vehicular access?
Do you accept the need put forward by the CBI for a VIP drop-off
point?
(Mr Anderson): I accept that there is a facility
there which would no longer be available during the construction
works and we should seek to provide that and we have offered reasonable
endeavours to do that on the east side of the building.
4529. Can we look at the east side, the plan
in the Promoter's response document, C5-ix?[32]
Mr Anderson, where would you propose the drop-off or loading facility
for the Centre Point Tower to be?
(Mr Anderson) In this particular
phase?
4530. Yes.
(Mr Anderson): I think at this stage the detailed
specification point was not identified. I think we can see that
there was a generic area for loading shown on St. Giles High Street,
and that would be one opportunity. Whether there would be opportunities
closer to the eastern entrance of the Centre Point Tower itself,
we would obviously have to explore as we take the design forward.
4531. Is your evidence that you do not know
whether it is possible to have a drop-off point on the east side
of the Tower?
(Mr Anderson): My evidence is not that we do
not know, my evidence is that we will endeavour to provide such
a drop-off point. It may not always be in the same location, depending
on the particular phase of the works that are in operation at
that particular time.
4532. The drop-off facility in the flow of traffic
on the road itself will cause considerable problems though, would
it not, with the number of buses and taxis using that route?
(Mr Anderson): It could well do, yes.
4533. Could you put up C5-xv, which is the permanent
position?[33]
If we could zoom in on Centre Point Tower, please? We see on that
permanent plan the loading bay on the east side of the Tower,
just by the left turn arrow. That is correct in the sense that
it is a loading or drop-off point for the Centre Point?
(Mr Anderson): I think the term
loading is generic there; it was meant to identify that vehicular
drop off was included.
4534. Is that able to be provided during the
course of the temporary construction words?
(Mr Anderson): I think that is subject to further
design on the detailed arrangements during the various traffic
management phases. I think what we are saying is that we will
endeavour to try and provide such a facility but it is dependent
on the outcome of that further designing work.
4535. When the Promoter offers reasonable endeavours
to secure a drop-off point or access, whatever, at all times,
are you envisaging that it is not secure at all times; that is
it is going to be a matter, as Mr Mould put it to Mr Handy, of
a couple of hours on a few occasions by prior arrangement, or
a period of perhaps several months when that facility is not available?
(Mr Anderson): I could not advise on what reasonable
endeavours means in that situation but if it got to the position
where it was a period of months I would expect us to be in discussions
with the various interests of the building to seek an alternative
arrangement.
4536. Mr Harwood: Thank you very much,
Mr Anderson.
The witness withdrew
4537. Chairman: One matter, Mr Harwood.
Can I just say to you that we have been very kind this afternoon
as a Committee. What we have had for the last hour or so has been
a continuation of negotiation between outstanding matters in relation
to this, and this is not a negotiating body. Really what we want
is for you to be as concise as you possibly can be with the issues
posed before the Committee. We well understand the technical arguments
within that point; we have visited the site, we have been briefed
thoroughly. So if you can, if you like, stop the negotiations
and really make your point in your summing-up. Mr Mould, do you
really need to call Mr Thornley-Taylor?
4538. Mr Mould: I was going to. You have
not heard from him yet about the process that we are following
in relation to airborne noise and it did seem to me that it might
be useful to the Committee in this context, just to hear him explain
that.
4539. Chairman: If you think that, then
that is appropriate. As I say, if we could stick with the issues.
Mr Rupert Thornley-Taylor, Recalled
Examined by Mr Mould
29 Smithfield Market Tenants' Association oral evidence,
28 February 2006. Back
30
Crossrail Information Paper D2 Control of Environmental Impacts,
http://billdocuments.crossrail.co.uk/ Back
31
Committee Ref: A51, Plan demonstrating 10mm settlement contour
in relation to Centre Point (CAMDLB-6705-012). Back
32
Crossrail Ref: P57, Tottenham Court Road East-Traffic Management
Stage E Outline (CAMDLB-6703-006). Back
33
Crossrail Ref: P57, Tottenham Court Road East-Traffic Management
Permanent Arrangement- Outline (CAMDLB-6703-010). Back
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