Examination of Witnesses (Questions 9360
- 9379)
9360. I have had an opportunity to speak to
Ms Wan before we began this morning, and I think it is fair to
say that her concerns are related to the potential for ground
settlement associated with the tunnelling works and the possible
impact of that on her property and on the operation of her restaurant.
In her petition she was concerned that there was no specific statement
about the detailed compensation arrangements that would be available
to property owners in her position in the event that any harm
was caused by the Crossrail scheme.
9361. I would just remind you, sir, that the
Bill does not set out in detail the land compensation provisions
that are available to people, because we propose that the land
compensation that exists generally in law in relation to those
who are affected by public works should apply to Crossrail, as
it does to road schemes and so on. The Bill does not set that
out in detail, but that is the position. I have explained that
to the Petitioner. I can deal with any concerns she has once you
have heard from her.
9362. Chairman: Ms Wan, welcome. Would
you like to make your petition.
9363. Ms Wan: First of all, my language
is not very good.
9364. I am concerned about the Bill . I am running
a business and it is quite successful, so while they are doing
the job they will actually affect my business.
9365. Secondly, they will damage my property
by the vibration while they are doing the digging. Another point
is because the building is quite old I worry about the damage.
That is what I am worrying about. How it works out, if it affects
my business. Making compensation and how it is doing. I do not
understand how it works. I do not know, are there actual proposals
to have my building or just using the site of the building to
digging the tunnel? While they are doing this, I am a bit worried
that it will affect my business. Because, while they are digging
on the road, then the customers cannot actually go into my premises.
That is what I am worried about.
9366. Chairman: I think it might be helpful,
Ms Wan, if you talk to Mr Berryman.
9367. Mr Mould: Sir, I entirely agree.
We were embarked on that process for about 10 minutes before we
started, and I think it would be helpful if we continue with that,
as you say.
Mr Keith Berryman, Sworn
Examined by Mr Mould
9368. Mr Mould: Mr Berryman, can we be
clear, does Crossrail propose any surface works in the vicinity
of the petitioner's property?
(Mr Berryman) No, there are no surface works
in that area.
9369. Can we say anything about the likelihood
of Ms Wan experiencing any impact from traffic and other disruption
in Commercial Road, in the vicinity of her property, as a result
of the construction of Crossrail?
(Mr Berryman) Commercial Road is a very busy
road. There will be some construction traffic from Crossrail going
along it, however, in the overall volume of traffic that is on
Commercial Road, it is unlikely to be noticeable.
9370. Let us turn to the works that are proposed
underground, passing beneath the Petitioner's property. Can you
summarise what those works are going to be, please.
(Mr Berryman) Yes, the works are twin running
tunnels—six metres in total, down into tunnels—which
run at a depth of about 28 metres below ground at this point.
The tunnels in this area will be driven by tunnel boring machines,
therefore the risk of settlement is very low and the amount of
settlement, if it occurs, will be very low. The tunnel boring
machines will pass under the property separately—so one
will go under, and then, perhaps three or four months later, the
other one will go under. When the machines go under there maybe
some slight noise but there should not be any vibration that can
be felt. When the machines have gone by, there should be no further
noise which is discernible from the restaurant, and certainly
when the trains are operating there should be no noise which is
audible in the restaurant. The 40 dB limit which we have set will
apply.
9371. That is the construction phase. Staying
with noise and vibration, once the railway has been built and
the trains are running, what is likely to be the position in so
far as any discernible noise or vibration within the restaurant
premises are concerned?
(Mr Berryman) There should not be any detectable
in the restaurant—not to the naked ear, if you like.
9372. The Committee has heard from Mr Thornely-Taylor,
explaining in a rather more detailed way why that is the position
and the requirements that are going to be placed upon the nominated
undertaker, the contractor who will be responsible for building
out the railway in terms of design standards and so on.
(Mr Berryman) That is correct.
9373. Turning to the possibility of any ground
settlement, can you help us with the way in which the Promoter
approaches that issue.
(Mr Berryman) For every property on the route,
an assessment is done of the likely settlement. If it is felt
that there is to be significant settlement or if the building
is in some way sensitive, that is carried forward to more and
more detail. In this case, we think the level of settlement will
be very small, so small that it will not cause any damage to the
buildings. However, we do have, as with other property owners
on the route, a document called Settlement Deed, where we undertake
that we will survey your property before the tunnel is bored.
If any damage results from those tunnels being constructed, we
will repair that damage and make good the property to its existing
stage. All the costs of those issues—the surveys, the repair
works, the structural assessment or anything like that—will
all be borne by us. We will not be asking you to do anything of
that.
9374. To be clear on the question of settlement,
Ms Wan is the freehold owner of a property beneath which we propose
to run tunnels, so she is entitled to a deed in relation to her
property. That is right, is it not?
(Mr Berryman) That is correct.
9375. And that deed will give her the contractual
rights to survey, if appropriate, to monitoring, to assessment
and to remedial works to address any damage that does occur, she
will have those rights and those rights will be set out in the
deed?
(Mr Berryman): They will be set out in the
deed and the deed is a contract between you and the Promoter to
actually make sure that those works are done.
9376. Thank you. I think that is all we need
to say on that. Sir, I do not know if the Petitioner has any questions?
9377. Chairman: Ms Wan, is there any
further questions you would like to ask?
9378. Ms Wan: No.
9379. Chairman: Might I suggest we get
the Promoter to send somebody along to meet with you at your premises
and give you more assurances and just to tell you that every word
which has been spoken at this hearing this morning is actually
written down, the stenographers are taking everything, and it
will be written down as spoken. We will get a copy of that to
you and it will outline the evidence which has been given, the
undertakings you have been given, so that you can refer to them
at any point in the future, is that satisfactory?
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