Examination of Witnesses (Questions 4627
- 4639)
4627. Mr Binley: Can I, as usual, inform
the Committee that it is my intention to suspend the sitting for
15 minutes at a convenient point after 11.30 so that everyone
may take—and I hope will take—the opportunity to have
a coffee in the upper waiting room. I say "will take"
because we struggled to get it there and we want to keep it. So
help would be much appreciated. Today the Committee will be hearing
four Petitions, the first of which is the French Huguenot Church
of London Charitable Trust and the French Protestant Church of
London. Is there anybody present on their behalf?
4628. Mr Challis: Yes, sir. Good morning.
My name is Mark Challis, from Bircham, Dyson, Bell. Sir, just
to say that the Church will not be appearing today. The reason
for that is that the Church has now very substantially, but not
completely, agreed an undertaking with the Promoters. Therefore,
it was not felt necessary or appropriate for the Church to be
here.
4629. Mr Binley: We are most grateful
to you for that. We give most thanks, quite frankly.
The Petition of EMI Music Publishing Limited.
Mr Gregory Jones appeared on behalf of the Petitioner.
4630. Mr Binley: We then move on to the
Petition of EMI Music Publishing Limited. Can I, first of all,
ask if Counsel for the Promoters wishes to make an opening statement?
Mr Elvin?
4631. Mr Elvin: Sir, as usual, very brief,
just to give you a very short background. Can I have the relevant
section put up just to show the Committee what we are dealing
with?[1]
Sir, EMI owns two premises which are relevant here: 12 Goslett
Yard and parts of 127 Charing Cross Road, roughly where you see
the arrow pointing to the word "Goslett Yard" in black,
in the centre of the screen. 127 Charing Cross Road is just below
that. Goslett Yard is just above that. Goslett Yard is to be acquired
and demolished for the Eastern Ticket Hall of the proposed Tottenham
Court Road Station. 127 Charing Cross Road is above and adjacent
to the proposed ticket hall and the westbound platform tunnel
at the proposed Tottenham Court Road Station. As I understand
it, from discussion with Mr Jones yesterday, the issues for the
Committee relate to compensation, noise, costs and to accessibility
and the giving notice of possession. Unless there are any other
matters I can assist you with at this stage, I hand over to Mr
Jones.
4632. Mr Binley: As ever, you are very
kind. Can I now call upon Mr Gregory Jones to present the case
for EMI Music Publishing Limited?
4633. Mr Jones: Good morning, sir. We
have a bundle of documents, if I can just give them to the Committee.
I have also got a short opening note, which I have reduced to
writing. I hope that is of assistance. I know there is a transcript.
4634. Mr Binley: May I just interrupt
you to tell you that this will then be recorded as A56 on our
document list.[2]
4635. Mr Jones: Those instructing me
are going to pass to your Clerk a copy of the opening note, and
also my learned friends.
4636. Mr Binley: While that is happening,
Mr Jones, might I tell you that that is recorded as A57.[3]
4637. Mr Jones: If I could inform the
Committee that we are intending to call one witness. His name
is Mr Paul Tilley and he is the company's facilities manager.
4638. Sir, I hope you and your colleagues have
copies of my note. Mr Elvin has kindly identified the location
of the two premises. Sir, you will see that 12 Goslett Yard is
scheduled to be acquired and demolished. As you will see, EMI's
current proposal is to relocate to their other premises across
the yard at 127 Charing Cross Road. If I go to my note, the first
issue I address is compensation. We are between a rock and a hard
place here, because at the time of the announcement of Crossrail,
EMI was in the commencement of major refurbishment of its offices
and studios at 12 Goslett Road. It has recording studios there
which are acoustically sensitive.
4639. The estimated cost budget, and you will
see that in your bundle of documents (and we will come to it in
the evidence) was in the region of £½ million. EMI had
already incurred in the region of £41,000 to £44,000
in design costs. We will also, with Mr Tilley, take you, sir,
to the rather attractive design plans that were in the process
of being implemented. Prudently, I may say, EMI, when Crossrail
was announced, put off to-date going ahead with the project, but
the position is that the Promoters remain of the view that they
will not compensate EMI for the costs that have already been incurred
in what may be an abortive project. This is because they adhere
to the position that no notice of a CPO has been served, so no
compensation is payable under the code. Sir, I am sure you are
familiar in broad terms with the compensatory provisions.
1 Crossrail Ref: P62, 12 Goslett Yard, 127 Charing
Cross Road (Parcel Nos. 674, 677) (WESTCC-8903-001). Back
2
Committee Ref: A56, Exhibits from EMI Publishing Limited. Back
3
Committee Ref: A57, Proof of Evidence from EMI Publishing Limited. Back
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